₦airaland Forum

The National Salute.

More scuffles as the president releases pigeons to symbolise peace.

There's a little scuffle between cameramen and security agents as President Buhari signs the Remembrance Day register.

The reville marks the end of the wreath laying ceremony.

This is very nice. Colonel Abu Ali's widow laid a wreath on behalf of widows. The chairman of the Nigerian Legion laid his wreath alongside hers.

The Liberian ambassador is the doyen of the diplomatic corps.

The service chiefs and the IGP. The band is playing "In My Father's House".



The IGP is nervous. He knows that he messed up last year, so he is a second too slow and he is watching the chief of air staff in order to follow his lead.

The two ministers, Defence and FCT, laid their wreaths together. The band is playing that delightful Yoruba song.

The Chief Justice, Walter Onnoghen, has laid his wreath.

The band is playing "Abide With Me"

The senate president and speaker will lay their wreaths together.

Vice President Osinbajo

The wreath laying begins.

President Buhari, accompanied by the Commander Guards Brigade, goes to lay his wreath

The cannon salute.

Minute silence

The Air Force Protestant chaplain is praying.

I hope Ibrahim Idris will get the protocol right this time. He made a mess of his wreath laying last year.

The Catholic Army chaplain has finished.

The Muslim Air Force chaplain is praying at the moment.

The prayers.

Catholic, Protestant and Muslim chaplains will lead the prayers.

The Last Post.

It's always been the same.

For 40 years the band has always played that Hausa song during the inspection of the guards and either Auld Lang Syne or Peace Perfect Peace when marching to the Cenotaph.

They played Peace Perfect Peace this year.

And now, to the Cenotaph.

I used to get very irritated when foreign heads of state bowed to the colours.

That's a practice that Buhari has adopted.

The parade commander is inviting the president to inspect the troops.

19 officers, 250 men

The National Salute (full anthem).

This is Ibrahim Idris' last remembrance day as IGP

The parade has been brought to attention and the president is here.

The limo and backup car are here. They are being escorted by the bagpipers.

The bagpipers of the Guards Brigade are gettimg ready to take over from the mounted troop.

The police mounted troop are arriving. I can see their flags in the distance.

The outriders are here.

As Taiwo Obileye used to say in the 1980s, we can now hear the sirens heralding the arrival of the president and commander in chief