The Nigerian Legion and Military Widows Association (MIWA) are collaborating with transport unions to raise funds through the sale of vehicle stickers with which to support ex-servicemen and families of fallen heroes.

The National Chairman, Nigerian Legion, retired Maj.-Gen. Abdulmalik Jibril and President of MIWA, Mrs Veronica Aluko announced the initiative on Thursday in Abuja.

They said that they would work with leaders and members of Heavy Duty Truck Drivers Association and other transports unions to raise the money.

Jibril particularly said the money raised from the sale of the stickers would be used to provide succor to widows and children of fallen heroes and those alive.

He also urged members of public to support the fallen heroes by buying the stickers.

“They have families and they are on pension, but the pension alone cannot be enough to take care of the burdens of those who were left behind, the children, the orphans and the widows.

“These stickers will be sold to the public and the revenue generated therein will be used judiciously to cater for some of their needs, because the needs of these dependents are enormous,” the legion chairman added.

Jibril commended President Bola Tinubu, for extending the poverty alleviation programme to the military veterans.

He said that the capture of the details of the military retirees to receive conditional cash transfer has started about two weeks ago in Abia.

“We are still generating the list of all ex-servicemen, the families that are eligible, that is, orphans, widows and dependents.

“We have already generated some and passed on to Ministry of Defence and from there to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

“We are still continuing and I am seizing this opportunity to urge member of the ex-service community who have not been captured to make effort to reach out to the nearest office of the Nigerian Legion in their state to register his or her name.”

Earlier, the President of MIWA, Mrs Veronica Aluko, thanked the legion for its commitment to the welfare and well-being of military widows and orphans.

According to her, the unveiling of the mass transit ticket was another milestone in the efforts of the legion to support them in addition to other empowerment programmes for widows.

The National President, Heavy Duty Trucks Drivers Association, Mr Uche Rogers, promised to ensure that the tickets were purchased by all the members of his association 100 per cent.

He said it would be unwise to ignore the ex-servicemen and widows of fallen heroes.

He therefore urged members of the public to key into the initiative to contribute to the welfare and well-being of military veterans.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria