The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (retd), has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to preserving the history, legacy and sacrifices of Nigerian troops who served under the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG). The Minister gave the assurance on Friday, October 23, 2026, when he received a delegation of ECOMOG veterans led by Major General Ohifeme Ejimai (retd) at the Ministry of Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
In a statement issued by Leah Katung-Babatunde, Special Adviser on Media to the Minister of Defence, General Musa acknowledged the enormous human and financial resources Nigeria committed to ECOMOG operations across West Africa. He particularly honoured personnel who paid the supreme price during peacekeeping missions in Liberia and Sierra Leone, assuring the veterans that their sacrifices would not be forgotten.
The Defence Minister also pledged that ongoing efforts to document outstanding records, casualties and historical assets associated with ECOMOG would be completed to ensure the preservation of the mission’s legacy for future generations.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Major General Ejimai (retd), briefed the Minister on the activities and ongoing initiatives of the veterans’ group, as well as the status of surviving Nigerian personnel who served under the regional peacekeeping force. He said the surviving veterans remained willing to contribute to national development and security, while urging the Ministry to address gaps in historical documentation.
Ejimai also called for the establishment of a dedicated remembrance day to honour the hundreds of Nigerian troops who lost their lives while working to restore peace and stability in West Africa. ECOMOG was established by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 1990 as a regional peacekeeping and peace enforcement force.With Nigeria playing a leading role in its operations, the force was instrumental in responding to regional crises, protecting civilian populations.