Tinubu decorates new Service Chiefs
….Reaffirms Commitment to Strengthening Nigeria’s Security
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday decorated the newly appointed Service Chiefs with their new ranks at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, reaffirming his administration’s resolve to fortify Nigeria’s security architecture amid persistent internal and external threats.
The new military leadership now includes:
- General Olufemi Oluyede – Chief of Defence Staff
- Lieutenant General Wahidi Shaibu – Chief of Army Staff
- Vice Admiral Idi Abbas – Chief of Naval Staff
- Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke – Chief of Air Staff
- Lieutenant General Emmanuel Akomaye Parker Undiendeye – Chief of Defence Intelligence
Their decoration followed the Senate’s confirmation of the President’s nominations on Wednesday, a move seen as part of ongoing efforts to recalibrate the Armed Forces and enhance operational effectiveness.
President Tinubu commended the outgoing military chiefs for their dedicated service and urged the new appointees to uphold professionalism, improve vigilance, and demonstrate unwavering commitment to defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity. He said the refreshed leadership team offers a chance to refine military strategies, boost inter-agency cooperation, and rebuild public confidence in the Armed Forces.
The President also tasked them with achieving tangible results in counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations, especially in areas plagued by Boko Haram, ISWAP, banditry, and kidnapping.
During his Senate screening, General Oluyede pledged to adopt a “multi-domain, multi-agency” approach to addressing security challenges across land, air, sea, and cyberspace. He highlighted plans to enhance night-fighting capabilities, expand special forces training, and integrate real-time intelligence to ensure battlefield superiority, while prioritising troop welfare to sustain morale.
Air Marshal Aneke, on his part, promised to build a disciplined and agile Air Force capable of crippling insurgent operations by disrupting their logistics, mobility, and strike capacity.
The Service Chiefs collectively vowed to reinforce discipline, unity, and operational synergy within the Armed Forces while fostering stronger collaboration with the Police to allow the military to focus more on external defence and high-intensity operations in the Northeast.
Security analysts view the reshuffle as a strategic reset amid evolving threats. While some experts have urged broader institutional reforms, the new chiefs appear ready to drive modernisation, deepen intelligence sharing, and enhance regional cooperation.
Overall, the appointments signal a decisive step toward revitalising Nigeria’s military strategy—anchored on modernisation, coordination, and improved morale—to restore confidence and deliver sustainable security gains across the country.
