The military veterans, under the aegis of Coalition of Concerned Veterans, had embarked on a nationwide protest on January 5, with a vow to disrupt the celebration of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day on January 15, but suspended the protest following the intervention of the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (retd.).

In April, the retired military personnel vowed to resume their suspended protest, following the inability of the Federal Government to meet their demand.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Dr Ibrahim Kana, said the President had approved payment of the allowance.

He said, “the President has given approval for reform of the Ministry of Defence into our own Pentagon, in this case, they will be the deployment of senior military officers working alongside civilian staff.

“We will not be directly involved in Operations but we will handle the policy aspect of the Ministry of Defence to ensure the best for our troops.

The president has given approval for the establishment of the veteran’s services department in the ministry for retired soldiers.

“Recently, the President unanimously approved the debarment allowance for all veterans. For the veterans, I think better days are ahead”.

Kana also said the Ministry of Defense was undergoing a reform to take the shape of the Pentagon.

He added, “We are also reforming our health services to see to the well-being of personnel. Therefore, we are reforming our health services department to provide quality health service to our personnel.

He added, “We are also reforming our health services to see to the well-being of personnel. Therefore, we are reforming our health services department to provide quality health service to our personnel.

“We are also reforming education, we are going to reform education in the command and secondary schools. Armed personnel have children and they have to go to school and that is our responsibility”.

He tasked the officers and soldiers of the 2 Division Nigerian Army, Odogbo, Ibadan to continue to be professional in handling security issues.

Yahya, made this appeal while addressing soldiers in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, during his official visit to the headquarters of the division.

He maintained that the Nigerian Army is well trained and experienced, with over 185 years of existence, and must continue to do things in line with the teaching of the profession.

Yahaya while appreciating the soldiers on their activities in tackling insecurity in the country, urged them to do more for the peace and security of the country.

He maintained that his visit was to interact with the soldiers to have first-hand information on happenings on the ground, saying he would address some of the issues on ground.

“It is not that we don’t know what they are doing, but it is ethic to visit the troops and interact with them and address issues we see on ground”.

The COAS promised to improve the welfare of officers and soldiers while pledging to construct more accommodation and renovate existing ones.

The Department of Defense said in a statement that 20-year-old Pfc. Brandon Jay Kreischer of Stryker, Ohio, and 24-year-old Spc. Michael Isaiah Nance of Chicago died “as a result of wounds sustained in a combat related incident” on Monday in Tarin Kowt, located in the southern part of Afghanistan.

“These young men were true All Americans and embodied the qualities of selfless service and courage as they answered our nation’s call to deploy to Afghanistan,” Col. Arthur Sellers, Commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, said in a statement. “Our focus is now providing their loved ones with every available resource to help them in this most difficult time.”

Both soldiers were assigned to the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, based in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Nance got into the Army in early 2017, and completed Basic Combat Training, Advanced Individual Training and Airborne School at Fort Benning, Ga. before being assigned to 1-505th PIR as an automatic rifleman, according to the Pentagon. He is survived by his father in Chicago and mother in Glenwood, Illinois.

The 24-year-old’s awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Basic Parachutist Badge.