A new phase in Nigeria’s national security architecture has begun following the confirmation of four new service chiefs by the Senate on Wednesday, after a two-hour closed-door screening session. The appointments, made last week by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, mark a major step in the administration’s ongoing efforts to strengthen defence operations and modernise the Armed Forces.
The Senate, presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, confirmed Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Major-General Waheedi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Rear Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), and Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke as Chief of Air Staff (CAS).
The new military leaders are expected to be decorated by President Tinubu and immediately assume office, armed with a renewed mandate to end insurgency, banditry, and other security challenges plaguing the country.
During their interaction with senators, the service chiefs outlined bold reform plans focused on self-reliance, technology-driven operations, and improved welfare for personnel.
Lt. Gen. Oluyede pledged to lead a “technology-driven, self-reliant” Armed Forces capable of producing its own weapons and equipment locally. He noted that continued dependence on foreign arms suppliers was both “economically unsustainable and strategically dangerous,” stressing the need to develop Nigeria’s own defence industry.
He promised to make intelligence-led warfare central to operations while prioritising the welfare, healthcare, and education of service members and their families. “Morale is the backbone of fighting power,” Oluyede declared, emphasizing that the strength of the military lies in the well-being of its personnel.
The new CDS also advocated comprehensive police reform to allow the military to focus on external defence rather than internal security. “The military alone cannot secure Nigeria. Security is everyone’s business,” he added.
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, the Chief of Naval Staff, said his focus would be on expanding maritime surveillance, boosting drone operations, and curbing piracy and oil theft. He maintained that Nigeria does not need a separate Coast Guard since the Navy already performs those roles. “What the Navy needs is better funding and modern surveillance tools,” he said.
Abbas disclosed that the Navy has deployed drones to monitor remote creeks and established a Special Operations Command in Makurdi to patrol the Benue-Lokoja waterways. He also emphasized the need for a justice-based reintegration process for repentant militants, stating that “true deradicalisation must include fairness, justice, and healing.”
Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke, the new Chief of Air Staff, vowed to transform the Nigerian Air Force into a “combat-ready, disciplined, and technology-oriented” service. He highlighted the growing role of unmanned aerial systems in modern warfare, promising greater investment in drone technology and rapid response units.
Aneke reassured lawmakers that Nigeria’s $1.2 billion Super Tucano aircraft fleet remains fully operational and continues to play a vital role in counterinsurgency missions. “They are flying every night in the North-East and North-West. Each missile costs about $100,000 — that’s the price of peace,” he said.
He further promised to strengthen pilot training, aircraft maintenance, and personnel welfare while seeking legislative support for advanced defence technology funding.
Together, the three service chiefs presented a unified vision anchored on synergy, innovation, and welfare. They pledged absolute loyalty to President Tinubu and vowed to deliver measurable results in restoring national peace and stability.
“We are here to serve,” Air Vice Marshal Aneke affirmed. “Every naira invested in the military must translate into peace, safety, and pride for Nigerians.”
The service chiefs were also screened by the House of Representatives, where they reiterated their commitment to President Tinubu’s defence agenda. Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson, lauded their strategic focus and assured them of legislative collaboration to support their mission.
Their confirmation officially solidifies the leadership team that will drive the Tinubu administration’s security reforms — a team tasked with stabilising the North-East, tackling banditry in the North-West, and defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity against both internal and external threats.
