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By Lizzy Chirkpi
The Senate on Wednesday commenced and concluded the screening of President Bola Tinubu’s newly appointed service chiefs, ultimately confirming their nominations after an extensive two-hour closed-door session at the National Assembly.
The confirmation followed President Tinubu’s recent letter to the Red Chamber seeking expeditious consideration of the nominees, a move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s national security architecture amid rising concerns over insurgency, banditry, and other security threats.
Leading the delegation, the Chief of Defence Staff-designate, General Olufemi Oluyede, arrived at the National Assembly complex around 10 a.m. alongside Major General Waidi Shaibu (Chief of Army Staff), Rear Admiral Idi Abbas (Chief of Naval Staff), Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke (Chief of Air Staff), and Major General Emmanuel Undiendeye (Chief of Defence Intelligence).
During the rigorous session, senators questioned the nominees on their strategies for tackling insecurity, improving inter-agency collaboration, and ensuring better welfare for troops on the front lines.
At plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio put the nominations to a voice vote, which lawmakers unanimously approved. Announcing their confirmation, Akpabio commended President Tinubu for what he described as “strategic and thoughtful selections,” expressing confidence that the new military leadership would restore hope in the country’s security system.
“They have answered all questions in the course of the interactions. Let me also thank the President for the selection of the nominees who have been so approved and confirmed by this chamber,” Akpabio said. “On the whole, we believe that this will renew the hope of Nigerians in respect of restoring security to our nation.”
The screening, which lasted about two hours, gave senators from all 36 states including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) the opportunity to engage the nominees on operational tactics, internal security management, and modernization of the armed forces.
Speaking after the session, the newly confirmed Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, described his previous tenure as Army Chief as “quite challenging,” but pledged renewed commitment to addressing the country’s evolving security threats.
The Senate’s confirmation came just days after President Tinubu met privately with the new service chiefs at the Presidential Villa, where he charged them to justify the confidence reposed in them through professionalism, discipline, and unity within the armed forces.
With the Senate’s approval, the newly confirmed service chiefs are expected to immediately assume duty and drive the administration’s renewed offensive against insecurity, insurgency, and other violent crimes across the count