President Bola Tinubu on Thursday decorated the newly appointed service chiefs with their new ranks, officially marking the beginning of their tenure as heads of the nation’s military services.
The ceremony, held at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja, followed the National Assembly’s confirmation of the officers on Wednesday.
The new service chiefs are General Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS); Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, Chief of Army Staff (COAS); Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, Chief of Naval Staff (CNS); and Air Marshal Kennedy Aneke, Chief of Air Staff (CAS). The Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General E.A.P. Undiendeye, retained his position.
President Tinubu decorated General Oluyede with his new four-star rank, while Lieutenant General Shaibu, Vice Admiral Abbas, and Air Marshal Aneke received their respective insignias. The President was assisted by the officers’ spouses during the ceremony.
Dignitaries at the event included Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Didi Walson-Jack.
Others present were National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of Defence Abubakar Badaru, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris, Kwara State Governor and NGF Chairman AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Inspector General of Police, and heads of the DSS, NIA, EFCC, and NIMC.
Meanwhile, General Oluyede and the other service chiefs formally assumed duty at their respective headquarters on Thursday, pledging to sustain and intensify the fight against terrorism, banditry, and other forms of insecurity.
In his farewell remarks, the immediate past CDS, General Christopher Musa, urged personnel of the Armed Forces to extend full cooperation to his successor in the national interest.
General Oluyede, during the handover ceremony, vowed to prioritise accountability, discipline, welfare, loyalty, and professionalism, while committing to a renewed and aggressive push against insurgency and criminality across the country.
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