By Nkechi Eze
In a vibrant show of strength, discipline, and unity, the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies on Friday converged in Abuja for the 2025 Armed Forces and Security Agencies Route March, an annual fitness exercise aimed at promoting physical and mental alertness among personnel while fostering inter-agency cooperation. The event, which drew massive participation from officers and men of the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, Department of State Services (DSS), and other paramilitary agencies, turned parts of the Federal Capital Territory into a field of colour and camaraderie as contingents marched in unison, chanting motivational songs and displaying the spirit of teamwork that defines Nigeria’s security institutions.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, reaffirmed the central role of physical fitness, unity, and collaboration in strengthening the nation’s security architecture. Represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans (Defence), Air Marshal Sayo Olatunde, the CDS commended the impressive turnout, discipline, and professionalism demonstrated by the participants, describing the event as a remarkable reflection of shared purpose and operational harmony.
Delivering the CDS’s goodwill message, Air Marshal Olatunde conveyed warm greetings to all participants, noting that General Musa, a committed sportsman and soldier at heart, was unavoidably absent due to pressing service exigencies. He lauded the energy and enthusiasm on display, emphasizing that the exercise underscored the Armed Forces’ commitment to physical readiness and mental alertness as vital tools for mission success.
“I am genuinely pleased to witness this impressive display of discipline, teamwork, and physical fitness among our courageous service members,” Olatunde stated. “Operational efficiency and combat readiness are inseparable from both mental and physical fitness. Physical fitness remains a critical component of fighting power, as it sharpens alertness, endurance, and the ability to make swift, sound decisions under pressure.”
He explained that the route march was designed to enhance both physical and mental fitness among officers and men of the Armed Forces and sister security agencies, enabling them to effectively meet the dynamics of contemporary security challenges confronting the nation. Beyond its physical benefits, the CDS said the exercise symbolizes unity, strength, and resilience, attributes that define the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security institutions. He added that the event also serves as an avenue to foster esprit de corps, collaboration, and mutual respect among the various agencies.
“This exercise reminds us that together, we operate as a single, cohesive entity, bound by shared national ideals of peace, unity, and discipline,” he said. “We are in a peculiar moment in our nation’s history, confronted by multiple security and developmental challenges. These times demand our unwavering loyalty, resilience, and patriotism, virtues that continue to light the candle of hope for our beloved country.”
Speaking further on the importance of the exercise to troop readiness, Air Marshal Olatunde emphasized that physical and mental fitness are indispensable to the execution of military duties. “If you are not physically and mentally fit, you cannot fight. It is indispensable to carrying out our mandates,” he stated.
Highlighting the participation of various security agencies including the Police, Department of State Services (DSS), and others, Olatunde said their joint involvement underscores the Defence Headquarters’ longstanding message of unity in action. “It reflects what the Chief of Defence Staff has always said, that to overcome our challenges as a nation, we need a whole-of-society approach. This means we need jointness among the military services, synergy among all security agencies in what we call a multi-agency arrangement, and the involvement of every citizen,” he explained.
He urged Nigerians to play their individual roles responsibly, stressing that national security requires collective commitment. “If everyone plays their part well, from the Armed Forces to other security agencies, and the general public, then we will overcome every challenge,” he said.
On the state of ongoing military operations across the country, Air Marshal Olatunde assured Nigerians that the Armed Forces are making steady and measurable progress. “When you look at what we are doing and the outcomes we are achieving, it is very evident that we are making a lot of progress. It is still work in progress, but we are moving strongly in the right direction,” he affirmed.
The CDS, through his representative, commended the spirit of cooperation demonstrated among the participating agencies, urging that such synergy should extend beyond the route march into operational coordination and intelligence sharing. “As we conclude today’s activities, let the key takeaway be the indispensability of teamwork, discipline, and unity among all security agencies. Together, we form an unbreakable shield that guarantees peace, unity, and progress for our nation,” Olatunde declared.
He also appreciated the Local Organizing Committee, the media, and all stakeholders for their contributions to the successful conduct of the exercise, praying for God’s continued protection over members of the Armed Forces and all security agencies.
