The Federal Government has honoured former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai (rtd) CFR, with the prestigious Legacy (Service and Sacrifice) Award for his far-reaching transformation of the Nigerian Army.
In a statement issued to newsmen on Thursday in Kaduna by Lt.-Gen. LO Adeosun (rtd), the award, presented during the Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day 2026, was described as a definitive national appreciation of Buratai’s institutional rebuilding legacy.
Adeosun said Buratai’s appointment in July 2015 marked the beginning of a deliberate mission to move beyond immediate combat demands and establish a holistic modernization framework for enduring operational relevance.
He explained that Buratai’s vision produced landmark institutions, including the Nigerian Army University, Biu, to promote defence innovation and technology-driven human capital development.
The statement also highlighted the establishment of the Army War College Nigeria as a premier centre for developing senior commanders with the operational and strategic depth required for complex, multi-theatre security challenges.
In response to asymmetric threats, Buratai created the 4 Special Forces Command in Doma, Nasarawa State, and the Nigerian Army Special Forces School in the same location to standardize rigorous pre-deployment training for elite forces.
According to Adeosun, these initiatives significantly enhanced precision operations, deep reconnaissance capabilities, and counter-terrorism proficiency across all theatres of operation.
The statement added that Buratai formally recognized cyberspace as a critical warfare domain through the creation of the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command to protect digital infrastructure and strengthen information warfare capacity.
It noted that the Nigerian Army Aviation Corps was revitalized through aggressive training and procurement, providing indispensable close air support and aerial intelligence for ground operations.
On logistics, Adeosun said the establishment of Nigerian Army Farms and Ranches and ST Foods ensured sustainable food supply, improved troop welfare, and strengthened operational independence.
He further stated that the Barracks Investment Initiative Programme empowered soldiers and their families through micro-credit and entrepreneurship, reducing financial anxiety and supporting societal reintegration.
The statement identified the Nigerian Army Resource Centre as a strategic think-tank that promotes doctrinal development, policy analysis, and future-oriented research for intellectual readiness.
It also described the Land Forces Simulation Centre as a revolutionary training facility that provides immersive, technology-driven command post exercises and tactical rehearsals in a simulated battlespace.
Beyond combat and strategy, Adeosun said Buratai invested heavily in healthcare with the complete rehabilitation and modernization of the 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Yaba, and the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna.
He added that the establishment of the NAOWA Command Hospital, Asokoro, Abuja, affirmed the Army’s commitment to world-class medical care, morale, and the sanctity of soldiers’ lives.
The statement further listed the creation of the Women’s Corps, the Homes Fit for Heroes housing scheme, and the development of indigenous armored vehicles such as EZUGWU and CONQUEROR MRAPs as key achievements of Buratai’s tenure.
Adeosun said these initiatives were complemented by an unprecedented infrastructural boom, enhanced intelligence capabilities, and successful large-scale military exercises that stabilized various regions.
He noted that Buratai preserved the Nigerian Army’s apolitical ethos, strengthened professionalism, and maintained firm subordination to democratic civil authority.
According to the statement, Buratai’s legacy lies not only in the institutions he built but also in the renewed spirit of a Nigerian Army repositioned to defend the nation.
It concluded that the Legacy Award stands as a tribute to a period of service, sacrifice, and strategic transformation that secured the future readiness of the Nigerian Army for generations.
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