The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, has emphasized the importance of providing military personnel opportunities beyond warfare, highlighting the need for relaxation and social engagement. Wike made this statement during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, ahead of the upcoming All Africa Military Games, scheduled to take place in November 2024.
\nDuring the briefing, Wike expressed gratitude to the Chief of Defence Staff and his team for selecting Abuja as the host city for the prestigious event, which will bring together military personnel from across Africa. He underscored the significance of the games not just for military camaraderie but also as a platform to showcase Abuja’s safety and hospitality to the rest of the continent.
\n“Let me thank the Chief of Defence Staff and his team for giving Abuja the opportunity to host this all-important event involving all African countries,” Wike said. “This will highlight Abuja\u2019s status as one of the safest and most beautiful cities in Africa, reinforcing Nigeria\u2019s progress on the global stage.”
\nHe further elaborated on the positive impact the games would have on Nigeria\u2019s image, stating that the thousands of visitors expected will return home as ambassadors, promoting Nigeria and Abuja as a top destination. Wike emphasized the FCT\u2019s readiness to support the event by providing necessary infrastructure and tightening security measures to ensure a smooth and successful occasion.
\n“The military is not just about fighting wars,” Wike noted. “They are also sportsmen\u2014boxers, wrestlers, and footballers\u2014who deserve opportunities to relax and engage with their colleagues. The social activities that will unfold from November 18 to 30 will help people unwind, fostering relationships that extend beyond the battlefield.”
\nIn his remarks, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, praised President Bola Tinubu for his continued support of the Armed Forces and thanked Wike for his assistance in making the event possible. General Musa highlighted the significance of the African Military Games, describing it as a unique opportunity to showcase the skills of military personnel and promote cooperation among African nations.
\n“We are pleased to announce that Nigeria will host the African Military Games this November, which brings together military personnel from across Africa to compete in various sporting disciplines,” Musa said. “This event will strengthen military cooperation and partnerships while allowing our Armed Forces to compete at an international level and build lasting relationships that will contribute to the continent’s stability.”
\nHe further stressed the importance of hosting such an event, pointing out the economic, sports, and security benefits it would bring to Nigeria and the FCT. “The hosting of these games demonstrates Nigeria\u2019s commitment to peace and security and presents an opportunity to showcase our nation’s capabilities as a host.”
\nGeneral Musa also assured that preparations were underway, with all necessary infrastructure and logistical support being finalized to ensure a successful event. He expressed confidence that Nigeria\u2019s Armed Forces would rise to the occasion and perform optimally.
\nIn addition to showcasing the military\u2019s sporting prowess, the games are expected to boost economic activities in the capital, promote sports development, and bring global recognition to Nigeria. The Chief of Defence Staff encouraged Nigerians and corporate organizations to support the Armed Forces as they prepare for the games.
\n“We urge all well-meaning Nigerians and corporate organizations to show their support for our Armed Forces,” Musa concluded. “This event embodies the spirit of sportsmanship, camaraderie, and unity. Let us show our love and hospitality to the visitors and participants.”
\nWith over 3,000 attendees expected from across Africa, the All Africa Military Games are poised to be a landmark event, blending the competitive spirit of sports with opportunities for diplomacy and friendship among the continent\u2019s military forces.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, has emphasized the importance of providing military personnel opportunities beyond warfare, highlighting the need for relaxation and social engagement. Wike made this statement during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, ahead of the upcoming All Africa Military Games, scheduled to take place in November 2024. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1606,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[177],"tags":[59],"class_list":["post-51557","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-abuja-reports","tag-featured"],"aioseo_notices":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51557","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51557"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51557\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":51558,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51557\/revisions\/51558"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1606"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51557"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51557"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51557"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}