President Bola Tinubu has told Nigeria’s newly appointed service chiefs they must “raise the bar” in the fight against insurgency, during their first official meeting at the State House in Abuja.
The closed-door briefing, which lasted about 40 minutes on Monday, came days after a sweeping shake-up of the country’s military leadership.
President Tinubu charged the officers to take decisive action against insurgents and bandits, particularly in the northern regions of the country, according to presidency sources.
The meeting was the first since the President announced the new appointments on Friday, stating the changes were intended “to strengthen the national security architecture.”
The new appointees are Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Defence Staff; Maj. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, Chief of Army Staff; Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke, Chief of Air Staff; and Rear Admiral I. Abbas, Chief of Naval Staff.
The Chief of Defence Intelligence, Maj. Gen. E.A.P. Undiendeye, retained his position.
In his original appointment statement, President Tinubu expressed “his most profound appreciation” to the outgoing service chief, General Christopher Musa, and his colleagues for their “patriotic service.”
He then charged the new appointees to “justify the confidence reposed in them” by enhancing professionalism and vigilance within the armed forces.
The leadership change follows recent media reports of an alleged failed coup, which the Defence Headquarters has firmly dismissed as “false and malicious.”
The new Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Abbas, is scheduled to formally assume office on Tuesday at a handing-over ceremony at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja.
Until his appointment, Rear Admiral Abbas served as the Chief of Training and Operations at the Naval Headquarters. He is expected to lead the Navy’s ongoing efforts to combat oil theft and piracy in Nigeria’s territorial waters.
The opposition African Democratic Congress has since called for more transparency from the government regarding the circumstances of the military reshuffle and the alleged coup plot.
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