A new era of leadership of the Armed Forces commenced yesterday with the confirmation of the appointments made on Friday by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Senate after two-hour closed-door session, during which the Service Chiefs were screened by the Committee of the Whole, chaired by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, announced the confirmation.
Confirmed are: 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 new military top brass, expected to assume office today after being decorated with their new ranks by President Tinubu and get the Commander-in-Chief’s charge which will include a mandate to end insurgency and general insecurity.
The CDS will become a four-star general while the heads of Army, Navy and Air Force will become three-star generals.
The Service Chiefs while answering questions from Senators before the executive session promised sweeping reforms to modernise the Armed Forces, boost troop morale, promote local arms production, use of technology, and deepen cooperation among the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Lt. General Oluyede said his leadership would drive a “technology-driven, self-reliant” defence system that reduces dependence on foreign arms.
He said: “We cannot continue to rely on foreign suppliers for our weapons. It is economically unsustainable and strategically risky.
“My focus will be to build a strong local military-industrial base that can produce what we need to defend the nation.”
He pledged to make intelligence-led, data-driven warfare the backbone of joint operations, while prioritising welfare, healthcare, housing, and education for soldiers’ families.
“Morale is the backbone of fighting power,” he said.
Oluyede also called for a comprehensive reform of the police to enable it to take charge of internal security, so as to free the military to focus on external defence.
“The military alone cannot secure Nigeria. Security is everyone’s business,” he added.
