President Bola Tinubu has formally written to the Senate, requesting the confirmation of the recently appointed Service Chiefs to lead the nation’s armed forces.
The request, read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during a plenary, covers the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Army Staff, Major-General Waheedi Shaibu; Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas; Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke; and Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major-General Emmanuel Undiendeye.
In his letter, President Tinubu urged the Senate to give “expeditious consideration” to the nominees to ensure the continuity of Nigeria’s national security operations. The matter has been referred to the Committee of the Whole for screening and confirmation next week.
The president’s letter follows a recent shake-up in the military hierarchy, in which General Christopher Musa was replaced by General Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff. Major-General Undiendeye retained his position as Chief of Defence Intelligence.
According to presidential aide Sunday Dare, the reshuffle was part of the Federal Government’s broader effort to “strengthen the national security architecture,” adding that all appointments took immediate effect.
However, the move has drawn criticism from opposition parties. The African Democratic Congress (ADC), in a statement by its spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi, urged the president to explain the rationale behind the sudden changes.
“Our position remains that the Federal Government owes Nigerians a categorical explanation about what truly happened,” the ADC said.
The party also expressed concern over regional instability, noting, “In light of developments in our neighbourhood, particularly in Chad and the Sahel States, we are gravely concerned about the implications for Nigeria’s security and democracy.”
