A new era of leadership has begun in Nigeria’s Armed Forces following the Senate’s confirmation of the new Service Chiefs appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
After a two-hour closed-door screening session chaired by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the Senate confirmed the appointments of Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff, Major-General Waheedi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff, and Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke as Chief of Air Staff.
The newly confirmed military chiefs are expected to be decorated today by President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, after which they will officially assume office. The President is also expected to issue a charge mandating them to end insurgency, banditry, and other internal security threats confronting the nation.
New Chiefs Promise Reform, Technology, and Welfare
During their screening, the Service Chiefs outlined sweeping reforms to modernise the Armed Forces, enhance troop morale, and strengthen inter-service cooperation.
Lieutenant General Oluyede pledged to build a technology-driven, self-reliant military focused on local arms production. He stated, “We cannot continue to rely on foreign suppliers for our weapons. It is economically unsustainable and strategically risky.”
He emphasised the need for an intelligence-led, data-driven approach to warfare and promised improved welfare, healthcare, housing, and education for military families. “Morale is the backbone of fighting power,” Oluyede said.
The new Chief of Defence Staff also called for comprehensive police reform to enable the force to manage internal security, freeing the military to focus on external defence.
“The military alone cannot secure Nigeria. Security is everyone’s business,” he added.
Naval, Air Force Chiefs Outline Security Plans
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, the new Chief of Naval Staff, promised to overhaul maritime operations, expand drone surveillance, and intensify the fight against piracy and oil theft. He dismissed the need for a separate Coast Guard, saying the Navy’s constitutional mandate already covers such duties.
“What we need is better funding and modern surveillance systems,” he explained. Abbas revealed that the Navy had deployed drones to monitor creeks and established a Special Operations Command in Makurdi to secure inland waterways.
He also called for victim-centred reintegration of repentant militants, stating, “Deradicalisation must include justice and healing.”
Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke, the new Chief of Air Staff, vowed to transform the Air Force into a “combat-ready, intelligent, and technology-driven” institution focused on drone warfare and rapid-response operations.
“Modern warfare is technology-driven. Unmanned aerial systems perform many missions better and safer than manned aircraft. We will invest in them,” he said.
Aneke confirmed that Nigeria’s $1.2 billion Super Tucano aircraft remain fully operational and active in counter-insurgency missions. “They are flying every night in the North-East and North-West. Each missile costs about $100,000 — the price of peace,” he added.
He assured lawmakers of continuous pilot training, improved aircraft maintenance, and enhanced personnel welfare, while calling for legislative support to boost defence technology funding.
Unified Vision for a Secure Nigeria
Together, the new Service Chiefs expressed a unified vision of synergy, innovation, and welfare to safeguard Nigeria’s land, sea, and airspace. General Oluyede promised to lead joint operations with Rear Admiral Abbas and Air Vice Marshal Aneke to strengthen Nigeria’s defence structure.
“We are here to serve. Every naira invested in the military must translate into peace, safety, and pride for Nigerians,” Aneke said.
The Service Chiefs also appeared before the House of Representatives, where they made similar commitments. Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson, praised their dedication and assured them of a fair and transparent process.
With their confirmation, President Tinubu’s new defence team is expected to drive reforms aimed at ending insurgency, restoring stability in the North-East, tackling banditry in the North-West, and securing the nation’s territorial integrity.
A 9am News report noted that this marks a critical shift in Nigeria’s security architecture, positioning the Armed Forces for a technology-driven, intelligence-led future.
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