Garba Mohammed
The Senate on Wednesday confirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s newly appointed Service Chiefs after an intensive closed-door screening session that lasted over two hours at the National Assembly in Abuja.
Presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the upper chamber unanimously approved the nominations through a voice vote, praising the President’s choices as “strategic and thoughtful” given the nation’s current security realities.
“They have answered all our questions during the interaction,” Akpabio said while announcing their confirmation. “On the whole, we believe this will renew the hope of Nigerians regarding the restoration of security across the country.”
During the session, senators engaged the nominees extensively on their operational strategies, inter-agency coordination, counter-insurgency plans, and welfare of troops in active service.
The confirmed appointees include:
General Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Defence Staff
Major General Waheedi Shaibu, Chief of Army Staff
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, Chief of Naval Staff
Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke, Chief of Air Staff
Major General Emmanuel Undiendeye, Chief of Defence Intelligence
The nominees, who arrived at the National Assembly complex around 10 a.m., were accompanied by senior military officers and aides for the high-level screening exercise.
Their confirmation followed President Tinubu’s formal request to the Senate seeking “expeditious consideration” of the appointments, which he described as key to strengthening Nigeria’s national security architecture.
Earlier this week, President Tinubu had met privately with the Service Chiefs at the Presidential Villa, where he charged them to demonstrate professionalism, unity, and renewed commitment to protecting citizens from threats of terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping.
He also commended the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and other retired officers for their “patriotic service and leadership.”
With the Senate’s approval, the newly confirmed Service Chiefs are expected to assume office immediately and spearhead the administration’s renewed campaign against insecurity and violent crimes nationwide.
“The nation expects a new era of stability and strategic coordination in our defence structure,” Akpabio said, expressing optimism that the appointments would “usher in stronger synergy and measurable progress in restoring peace.”