Military widows are calling on state governments to expand support beyond financial donations, as Nigeria marks Armed Forces Remembrance Day across the country.
The Chairperson of the Military Widows Association in Kebbi State, Asmau Kanoma, makes the appeal in Birnin Kebbi after the Remembrance Day ceremony, highlighting the daily struggles faced by widows of fallen service members, Mediaplusng.com reports.
Kanoma explains that many widows lose their husbands unexpectedly and are often left without adequate preparation or steady means of income. She says the burden of caring for children and meeting basic needs forces many widows into long-term hardship.
According to Mediaplusng.com, the association urges state governments to introduce sustainable empowerment initiatives, including skills acquisition programmes and housing support, rather than relying solely on periodic cash gifts.
Kanoma suggests that governments can allocate plots of land to military widows or develop shared housing schemes to improve their living conditions and promote self-reliance. She adds that vocational training would help widows build stable livelihoods and reduce dependence on handouts.
She commends the Kebbi State Government for its continued support but stresses that long-term solutions are needed to address poverty and insecurity among military families left behind.
During the ceremony, Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, inspects the parade and lays a wreath in honour of fallen heroes who died in active service to the nation.
The governor also announces financial donations as part of the Remembrance Day activities. He donates ₦10 million to the Military Widows Association, ₦10 million to the wives of soldiers at Dukku Barracks in Birnin Kebbi, and another ₦10 million to soldiers currently serving in the state.
The event serves as both a moment of national reflection and a renewed call for policies that support military families beyond ceremonial occasions, especially widows who continue to bear the cost of national security sacrifices.
