Presidential Guard Brigade (Nigeria)

Nigerian Presidential Guard Brigade
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev inspecting the Presidential Guard Brigade during his visit to Abuja in June 2009.
Active September 1962 (1962-09)
Country  Nigeria
Branch Nigerian Armed Forces
Type Honor Guard
Combat Unit
Role The protection of the President of Nigeria.
Size Brigade (3-6 battalions)
Headquarters Abuja
Anniversaries Armed Forces Day
Commanders
Current
commander		 Brigader General Umar Thomas Musa[1]

The Presidential Guard Brigade is a special arm of the Nigerian Army, which is responsible for protecting the President of Nigeria. The members of the brigade are a group of elite Nigerian soldiers which guards the residence of the President and his guests, as well as perform ceremonial duties. It is, also a combat unit, akin to the American Secret Service.[2]

History and Mission

The Presidential Guard Brigade of the Nigerian Army was formed in September 1962 as the Federal Guards. It was created for the purpose of carrying out ceremonial and security duties in Lagos and Abuja similar to the role of the British Household Division in London.[3] In May 1966, Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, who was the leader of the Nigerian Military Junta, renamed the Federal Guards to the National Guards. The soldiers who killed Ironsi on July 29, 1966, were drawn from the National Guards unit in Lagos. The brigade fired a 21 gun salute during the swearing in ceremony of Muhammadu Buhari on May 29, 2015.[4] The brigade currently protects the residence of the President and his guests, as well as perform ceremonial duties. Members of the brigade stand at the Presidential Villa in Aso Rock and also raise and lower the national flag at ceremonies and parades. The brigade holds a weekly changing of the guard guard ceremony outside Aso Villa.[5]

References

  1. ↑ http://thenationonlineng.net/president-buhari-receives-new-commander-guards-brigade/amp/
  2. ↑ https://defensenigeria.com/2017/12/14/everything-you-need-to-know-about-nigerias-presidential-guard/
  3. ↑ "The permanent nucleus of what is now known as the Brigade of Guards of the Nigerian Army was formed in September 1962 as the Federal Guards for the purpose of carrying out ceremonial and security duties in Lagos similar to the role of the British Guards regiments in London". http://www.gamji.com. Retrieved 2018-03-31. External link in |website= (help)
  4. ↑ https://www.informationng.com/2015/05/presidential-inauguration-army-alerts-public-on-firing-of-artillery-guns.html
  5. ↑ https://sunnewsonline.com/guards-brigade-to-hold-weekly-change-of-guard-outside-aso-villa/amp/
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