The Senate on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of latest service chiefs after pledging to make sure speedy enchancment within the nation’s security following particular person screening.
The newly confirmed service chiefs, appointed final week by President Bola Tinubu, are Lt. Normal Olufemi Oluyede because the Chief of Defence Employees (CDS); Main Normal Waidi Shaibu, Chief of Military Employees (COAS); Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, Chief of Naval Employees (CNS); and Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke because the Chief of Air Employees (CAS).
Their affirmation was introduced by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, after they have been correctly grilled in a closed-door session that lasted about two hours.
Earlier than their affirmation, the service chiefs outlined an formidable roadmap to reform the armed forces, strengthen inter-agency collaboration, promote native manufacturing of navy {hardware}, and enhance the welfare of troops serving in fight zones throughout the nation.
Normal Oluyede, who till not too long ago headed the Nigerian Military, mentioned his major mission could be to construct a self-reliant, technology-driven defence system that may maintain operations with out extreme dependence on imported tools.
“We can not proceed to depend on international suppliers for our weapons. It’s economically unsustainable and strategically dangerous. My focus can be to construct a robust native military-industrial base that may produce what we have to defend the nation,” he advised the lawmakers.
The Defence Chief, a veteran of counter-insurgency operations in Liberia, Bakassi, and Nigeria’s North-East, mentioned he would prioritise intelligence-led warfare and be certain that joint operations between the Military, Navy, and Air Drive are technology-supported and data-driven.
“Our method can be multi-domain and multi-agency. We are going to strengthen night time operations, practice extra particular forces, and make use of real-time intelligence to dominate all terrains,” he mentioned.
Normal Oluyede emphasised troop welfare as a vital a part of his management agenda, describing morale because the “spine of combating energy.” He promised to enhance housing, healthcare, and training for troopers’ households, and guarantee immediate fee of advantages.
He additionally referred to as for a complete reform of the Nigeria Police Drive to allow it to take full management of inside security in order that the navy may give attention to exterior defence.
“The navy alone can not safe Nigeria. Security is everybody’s enterprise — the federal government, the communities, and civil establishments. However we should additionally empower the police to deal with inside threats successfully,” he mentioned.
A number of senators counseled Oluyede’s strategic plans and subject expertise. Senator Mohammed Monguno (Borno North) lauded his management within the struggle towards insurgency, whereas Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) urged him to make troop welfare a non-negotiable precedence.
In his response, the Chief of Defence Employees nominee pledged to strengthen the Federal Authorities’s Operation Secure Hall initiative, which rehabilitates repentant insurgents, assuring that the programme would come with victims and affected communities within the reconciliation course of.
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, confirmed as Chief of Naval Employees, promised to overtake Nigeria’s maritime security operations with a give attention to trendy surveillance methods, anti-piracy efforts, and the prevention of oil theft.
He dismissed the proposal for a separate Coast Guard, noting that the Navy already performs such duties and solely wants improved funding and tools.
“The Navy’s constitutional roles already cowl what a Coast Guard would do. Somewhat than duplicating establishments, the federal government ought to strengthen the Navy with higher logistics and surveillance expertise,” he said.
Abbas mentioned the Navy was deploying drones to observe distant creeks and waterways the place crude oil theft and unlawful bunkering persist, including {that a} Particular Operations Command has been established in Makurdi to strengthen inland waterway patrols between Benue and Lokoja.
He additionally emphasised the significance of emotional reconciliation in reintegration programmes, warning that the ache of victims should not be ignored whereas rehabilitating repentant militants.
“Deradicalisation should embody justice and therapeutic. Communities that misplaced family members must be a part of the peace course of,” Abbas mentioned.
Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke, who was confirmed as Chief of Air Employees, pledged to reposition the Nigerian Air Drive as a “combat-ready, disciplined, and clever” power constructed on precision expertise and rapid-response capability.
Aneke mentioned he would broaden Nigeria’s drone capabilities and spend money on analysis to modernise air operations. “Fashionable warfare is technology-driven. Unmanned aerial methods now carry out many missions higher and safer than manned plane. We are going to spend money on them,” he mentioned.
On considerations raised concerning the state of Nigeria’s $1.2 billion Tremendous Tucano plane, the Air Chief assured senators that the fleet stays operational and essential to ongoing counter-insurgency efforts.
“The Tremendous Tucanos are flying each night time within the North-East and North-West. We might not publicise their missions, however they’re performing successfully,” he mentioned, including that every missile utilized in operations prices about $100,000, a worth he described as “the price of peace.”
He additionally vowed to prioritise pilot coaching, plane upkeep, and the welfare of personnel, calling for legislative help in funding defence expertise and operations.
Throughout their particular person displays, the three service chiefs outlined a unified imaginative and prescient for Nigeria’s security future, one which centres on synergy, innovation, and welfare.
Normal Oluyede promised to drive joint navy operations, Rear Admiral Abbas dedicated to securing the nation’s maritime belongings, and Air Vice Marshal Aneke vowed to make sure air dominance by precision expertise.
All three reaffirmed their loyalty to President Bola Tinubu’s defence reform agenda and pledged to ship tangible leads to the struggle towards terrorism, banditry, and oil theft.
“We’re right here to serve,” Aneke concluded, saying, “Each naira invested within the navy should translate into peace, security, and satisfaction for Nigerians.”
With their affirmation, the trio now type the spine of Tinubu’s new nationwide security technique, charged with restoring stability to the North-East, ending banditry within the North-West, and safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial integrity throughout land, sea, and air.
