The Nigerian Senate has commenced the screening of the newly appointed Service Chiefs, led by the Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede.
The exercise, which began on Wednesday at the National Assembly, saw the top military commanders arrive the Senate chamber at exactly 12:40 p.m. for the confirmation proceedings.
Those appearing before lawmakers alongside Oluyede include the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sunday Aneke; Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas; and Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General Emmanuel Undiendeye.
Addressing the Senate, Oluyede identified inadequate resources as a major challenge in the fight against insurgency and other security threats across the country.
He stressed the importance of developing local capacity for weapons production to reduce dependence on foreign arms suppliers, saying, “There is a need for Nigeria to improve its own capacity to locally produce the weapons it needs to prosecute the wars and battles confronting it.”
The Defence Chief also expressed concern over rising cybercrime and the spread of misinformation, warning that both could undermine national security if left unchecked.
Calling for better welfare for troops and their families, Oluyede said, “There is something special being a soldier,” but lamented that poor funding had hindered adequate support for personnel.
He further urged the Federal Government to enhance police training, noting that the military was currently overstretched by handling tasks meant for the police.
Oluyede, who was confirmed as the substantive Chief of Army Staff in December 2024 following the death of Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, was asked to take a bow, having previously been screened by the Senate. The session then continued with other nominees addressing lawmakers before the Senate moved into a closed-door session.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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