Lawmakers endorse Oluyede, Shaibu, Abbas, and Aneke as new heads of the armed forces amid fresh push for military reforms……
The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday confirmed President Bola Tinubu’s nominees for the positions of Service Chiefs, following a two-hour closed-door screening session focused on national security and defence reform.
Those confirmed include Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff, Wahidi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff, and Kelvin Aneke as Chief of Air Staff.
The nominees appeared before senators in an extended interactive session where they were questioned on their strategies for enhancing intelligence coordination, modernising the armed forces, and restoring public confidence in military operations.
Tinubu’s Call for Confirmation
Earlier, President Tinubu had formally requested the Senate to screen and confirm the new appointees, noting that their selection was critical to his administration’s ongoing security reforms.
In response, the upper chamber dedicated its entire Wednesday plenary to the exercise, holding the session behind closed doors for over two hours to allow for frank discussions on defence strategy and operational challenges.
Senate Endorses Nominees Unanimously
After the screening, Senate President Godswill Akpabio put the nominations to a voice vote, which received unanimous approval from lawmakers.
Akpabio commended the President for his “careful and strategic” choice of officers, describing the nominees as seasoned professionals capable of repositioning Nigeria’s military to tackle evolving security threats.
“The confirmation of these distinguished officers reflects renewed confidence in the Tinubu administration’s commitment to security reform and the protection of lives and property,” Akpabio said.
He also praised the red chamber for dedicating an entire plenary to the confirmation process, calling it an act of patriotism and institutional responsibility.
Focus on Security Reforms
The confirmation of the new service chiefs marks a significant step in President Tinubu’s broader efforts to restructure Nigeria’s defence architecture and improve inter-agency collaboration in the fight against terrorism, insurgency, and organized crime.
With their appointments now ratified, the new military leadership is expected to begin implementing a comprehensive reform agenda aimed at restoring peace and stability across the country.
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