The Federal Government yesterday launched an online discount shopping platform for serving military personnel, veterans and their families.
It is part of measures to ease financial pressures and strengthen the welfare of members of the Armed Forces.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, who launched the Armed Forces of Nigeria Personnel Online Discount Shop in Abuja, said the initiative would give beneficiaries convenient access to essential goods at discounted prices.
Akume said the welfare of military personnel could not be limited to providing operational equipment and capabilities, stressing that the resilience and effectiveness of the Armed Forces also depended on the well-being of troops and their families.
He described the platform as a significant addition to the Federal Government’s broader welfare framework for military personnel, particularly at a time when reducing household costs and improving access to essential goods remained important to families.
According to a statement issued by the Head of the Press and Public Relations Department of the OSGF, Chris Ugwuegbulam, Akume said a motivated and resilient Armed Forces is sustained by the confidence of personnel that the government places a premium on their welfare and that of their families.
The SGF commended the Chief of Defence Staff, General O.O. Oluyede, Defence Headquarters and other stakeholders involved in developing the initiative, saying the scheme demonstrated the government’s commitment to improving the quality of life of those responsible for defending the country.
The online discount shop is being implemented through the Konga digital platform in partnership with Zinox Group, allowing eligible military personnel, veterans and their families to access discounted products electronically.
Akume said the arrangement illustrated how digital technology and strategic partnerships with the private sector could be deployed to deliver practical benefits to Nigerians who had dedicated themselves to national service and security.
He particularly welcomed the decision to extend the scheme to military veterans and their families, saying those who had served the country deserved continued recognition and support after leaving active service.
Earlier at the event, Defence Headquarters and Zinox Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding to provide the framework for implementing and sustaining the initiative.
Akume said the agreement represented an example of the benefits that could be achieved when public institutions and responsible private organisations combined their capabilities in pursuit of national objectives.
He, however, charged Defence Headquarters and other stakeholders to ensure transparency and reliability in the implementation of the programme, warning that its success would ultimately be determined by the actual benefits delivered to military personnel and veterans.
The SGF said the platform must remain responsive to beneficiaries’ needs, with the quality of service provided determining its credibility and long-term sustainability.
Akume also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as the President’s unwavering support and commitment to the Armed Forces under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He encouraged serving personnel, veterans and other eligible beneficiaries to take advantage of the platform, saying the initiative was designed to translate the government’s commitment to military welfare into practical support for troops and their families.
The SGF thereafter formally launched the AFN Personnel Online Discount Shop, declaring it open for the benefit of serving personnel, veterans and their families.