By George Mgbeleke <\/p>\n
The Senate on Wednesday confirmed President Bola Tinubu\u2019s nominees for the positions of Chief of Defence Staff and the heads of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, following a two-hour closed-door screening that focused on the country\u2019s deepening security challenges.<\/p>\n
After the session, presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the upper chamber returned to open plenary and unanimously approved the appointments of 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.<\/p>\n
Before their confirmation, the service chiefs outlined an ambitious roadmap to reform the armed forces, strengthen inter-agency collaboration, promote local production of military hardware, and improve the welfare of troops serving in combat zones across the country.<\/p>\n
General Oluyede, who until recently headed the Nigerian Army, said his primary mission would be to build a self-reliant, technology-driven defence system that can sustain operations without excessive dependence on imported equipment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe cannot continue t.o 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,\u201d he told lawmakers.<\/p>\n
The Defence Chief, a veteran of counter-insurgency operations in Liberia, Bakassi, and Nigeria\u2019s North-East, said he would prioritise intelligence-led warfare and ensure. that joint operations between the Army, Navy, and Air Force are technology-supported and data-driven.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur approach will be multi-domain and multi-agency. We will strengthen night operations, train more special forces, and employ real-time intelligence to dominate all terrains,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Oluyede emphasised troop welfare as a critical part of his leadership agenda, describing morale as the \u201cbackbone of fighting power.\u201d He promised to improve housing, healthcare, education for soldiers\u2019 families, and ensure prompt payment of benefits.<\/p>\n
He also called for a comprehensive reform of the Nigeria Police Force to enable it to take full control of internal security so that the military could focus on external defence.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe military alone cannot secure Nigeria. Security is everyone\u2019s business \u2014 the government, the communities, and civil institutions. But we must also empower the police to handle internal threats effectively,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Several senators commended Oluyede\u2019s strategic plans and field experience. Senator Mohammed Monguno (Borno North) lauded his leadership in the fight against insurgency, while Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) urged him to make troop welfare a non-negotiable priority.<\/p>\n
In his response, the Chief of Defence Staff nominee pledged to strengthen the federal government\u2019s Operation Safe Corridor initiative, which rehabilitates repentant insurgents, assuring that the programme would include victims and affected communities in the reconciliation process.<\/p>\n
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, confirmed as Chief of Naval Staff, promised to overhaul Nigeria\u2019s maritime security operations with a focus on modern surveillance systems, anti-piracy efforts, and the prevention of oil theft.<\/p>\n
He dismissed the proposal for a separate Coast Guard, noting that the Navy already performs such duties and only needs improved funding and equipment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Navy\u2019s constitutional roles already cover what a Coast Guard would do. Rather than duplicating institutions, the government should strengthen the Navy with better logistics and surveillance technology,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
Abbas said the Navy was deploying drones to monitor remote creeks and waterways where crude oil theft and illegal bunkering persist, adding that a Special Operations Command has been established in Makurdi to strengthen inland waterway patrols between Benue and Lokoja.<\/p>\n
He also emphasised the importance of emotional reconciliation in reintegration programmes, warning that the pain of victims must not be ignored while rehabilitating repentant militants.<\/p>\n
\u201cDeradicalisation must include justice and healing. Communities that lost loved ones should be part of the peace process,\u201d Abbas said.<\/p>\n
Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke, who was confirmed as Chief of Air Staff, pledged to reposition the Nigerian Air Force as a \u201ccombat-ready, disciplined, and intelligent\u201d force built on precision technology and rapid-response capacity.<\/p>\n
Aneke said he would expand Nigeria\u2019s drone capabilities and invest in research to modernise air operations. \u201cModern warfare is technology-driven. Unmanned aerial systems now perform many missions better and safer than manned aircraft. We will invest in them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
On concerns raised about the state of Nigeria\u2019s $1.2 billion Super Tucano aircraft, the Air Chief assured senators that the fleet remains operational and crucial to ongoing counter-insurgency efforts.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Super Tucanos are flying every night in the North-East and North-West. We may not publicise their missions, but they are performing effectively,\u201d he said, adding that each missile used in operations costs about $100,000 \u2014 a price he described as \u201cthe cost of peace.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also vowed to prioritise pilot training, aircraft maintenance, and the welfare of personnel, calling for legislative support in funding defence technology and operations.<\/p>\n
Across their individual presentations, the three service chiefs outlined a unified vision for Nigeria\u2019s security future \u2014 one that centres on synergy, innovation, and welfare.<\/p>\n
General Oluyede promised to drive joint military operations, Rear Admiral Abbas committed to securing the nation\u2019s maritime assets, and Air Vice Marshal Aneke vowed to ensure air dominance through precision technology.<\/p>\n
All three reaffirmed their loyalty to President Bola Tinubu\u2019s defence reform agenda and pledged to deliver tangible results in the fight against terrorism, banditry, and oil theft.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are here to serve,\u201d Aneke concluded. \u201cEvery naira invested in the military must translate into peace, safety, and pride for Nigerians.\u201d<\/p>\n
With their confirmation, the trio now form the backbone of Tinubu\u2019s new national security strategy, charged with restoring stability to the North-East, ending banditry in the North-West, and safeguarding Nigeria\u2019s territorial integrity across land, sea, and air.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By George Mgbeleke The Senate on Wednesday confirmed President Bola Tinubu\u2019s nominees for the positions of Chief of Defence Staff and the heads of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, following a two-hour closed-door screening that focused on the country\u2019s deepening security challenges. After the session, presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the upper […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8194,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[514,2725,2060,800,177,2230],"class_list":["post-8281","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-law-crime","tag-against","tag-appointments","tag-approved","tag-fight","tag-terrorism","tag-unanimously"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8281","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8281"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8281\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8282,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8281\/revisions\/8282"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8194"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8281"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8281"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8281"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}