Nigeria’s newly appointed Service Chiefs have arrived at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja for their official screening by the Senate, marking a significant step in President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing security sector reforms.
The top military officers, accompanied by senior colleagues, arrived around 10 a.m. on Wednesday. Their appearance followed the Senate’s decision to move the screening earlier to October 29, instead of the initially scheduled date for next week.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the new date after reading a letter from President Tinubu seeking the confirmation of General Olufemi Oluyede as the Chief of Defence Staff.
Akpabio explained that the adjustment was necessary to ensure that the new service chiefs resume duties promptly and continue the administration’s drive to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.
Okay News reports that President Tinubu, in a recent directive, urged the Senate to expedite the confirmation process to maintain seamless coordination of the country’s defence and intelligence operations.
On October 24, President Tinubu had approved a major shake-up in the military leadership, appointing General Olufemi Oluyede to replace General Christopher Musa as the Chief of Defence Staff. Major-General W. Shaibu was named Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal S. K. Aneke became the Chief of Air Staff, while Rear Admiral I. Abbas assumed office as the Chief of Naval Staff.
According to a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, Major-General E. A. P. Undiendeye retained his position as Chief of Defence Intelligence. All the appointments, Dare confirmed, take immediate effect.
General Oluyede, who previously served as Chief of Army Staff following the death of General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, will now lead the Armed Forces of Nigeria as the new Chief of Defence Staff.
The outgoing service chiefs — General Musa, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, and Air Marshal Bala Abubakar — assumed office in June 2023 and led multiple counter-insurgency operations against Boko Haram, ISWAP, and bandit groups in the North-East and North-West regions.
Despite recording several operational successes, continued security challenges and rising attacks by gunmen across the country have renewed calls for a change in military strategy and leadership direction.
The Senate screening session is expected to conclude later in the day, after which the upper chamber will communicate its decision to the Presidency.
