Presidential Guard Brigade (Nigeria)

President Jimmy Carter and General Olusegun Obasanjo at a welcoming ceremony performed by the Guards Brigade.

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.[2] 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. This operation lead to significant controversy over the area of responsibility and chain of command within the brigade.[3][4]

The Guards Brigade provides security for the following individuals in the Nigerian presidential line of succession and with relevance to the President:

• President of Nigeria
• First Lady of Nigeria
• Vice President of Nigeria
• President of Senate
• Speaker House of Representatives
• Chief Justice of Nigeria

It works with the Nigeria Police Force in securing any area in the Federal Capital Territory.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev inspecting the Guards Brigade during a visit to Nigeria in June 2009.

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 ceremony outside Aso Villa.[5] It also mounts the guard of honour on behalf of the Nigerian Armed Forces during national events such as the Armed Forces Day festivities and the national Independence Day Parade. It has also mounted the guard of honour during state arrival ceremonies for foreign dignitaries who undertake state visits to Abuja. Dignitaries who have the inspected the brigade while on state visits have included Dmitry Medvedev, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Jacob Zuma. Regular performances also took place at occasions when foreign ambassadors presented their diplomatic credentials to the President, as well as during the official arrival and departure of the State President from various cities, especially those cities in which his official residences were situated.

Other past ceremonial events in which the PG was present include the following:

• In 2010, the brigade solemnly escorted President Umaru Yar'Adua as he returned to Nigeria shortly before his death.[6]
• The brigade fired a 21 gun salute during the Inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari on 29 May 2015.[7]
• The brigade's drill unit took part in the August 2019 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo alongside the Guards Band.[8][9][10][11]
• During the acting presedency of Yemi Osinbajo in the spring of 2017. the Guards Band performed special Yoruba honour songs every time he returned to the presidential residence.[12]
• In 2018, the guards performed a routine during the National Day in Cameroon.[13]

• Brigadier Wellington Duke Bassey (September 1962 - 1968)[17]
• Major General Joseph Nanven Garba (1968 - February 1976)
• Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa (February 1976 - 1979)
• Colonel Mohammed Kaliel (1981–1984).[18]
• Major General Babagana Monguno (August 2007 – January 2009)
• Brigader General Umar Thomas Musa (? - 4 August 2019[19]
• Brigadier General Muhammed Takuti Usman (since 4 August 2019)

In late 2018, the brigade was accused of carrying out a massacre in the capital of Abuja against Shia muslims who were members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria. The protesters of the IMN who were at the scene were protesting the imprisonment of Ibrahim Zakzaky, a Shia cleric who is the leader of the IMN and has stayed in detention since December 2016. At least 45 IMN protesters were killed in the massacre.[20][21]

• National Ceremonial Guard
• Presidential Guard (Zimbabwe)
• Republican Guard (Algeria)
• Brigade of The Guards

• (PHOTOS) A Special parade by Nigerian Army Presidential Guards Brigade
• The Cerenonial Changing of the Guard performed by the brigade