President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday held his first closed-door meeting with the newly appointed Service Chiefs, charging them to raise the bar in the fight against insurgency and insecurity across the country.
The four top military officers, General Olufemi Oluyede (Chief of Defence Staff), Major General Waidi Shaibu (Chief of Army Staff), Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke (Chief of Air Staff), and Rear Admiral Ibrahim Abbas (Chief of Naval Staff), arrived at the Presidential Villa around 4:00 p.m. in a black Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van, piloted by a green Toyota Land Cruiser.
They were received at the forecourt of Aso Rock and ushered into the building by presidential security aides. The meeting lasted about 40 minutes and ended at 4:40 p.m., after which the officers departed in the same convoy.
Although details of the meeting were not made public, presidency sources disclosed to Punch that Tinubu urged the new military chiefs to “take decisive action” against insurgents and bandits, especially in the northern region.
In a statement released on Friday, October 24, by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, Tinubu had said the reshuffle was carried out “in furtherance of the efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria to strengthen the national security architecture.”
He expressed appreciation to the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and other retired service chiefs for their “patriotic service and dedicated leadership.”
The President further tasked the new appointees to “justify the confidence reposed in them” by enhancing professionalism, vigilance, and camaraderie within the Armed Forces.
Abbas Takes Over As Chief Of Naval Staff
Meanwhile, the new Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Abbas, will officially assume office today (Tuesday), taking over from Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, who was appointed in June 2023.
Sources at Naval Headquarters confirmed that a formal handing and taking over ceremony has been scheduled for today in Abuja.
“Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the new CNS should resume tomorrow (Tuesday). Preparations are already underway for the ceremony. The press will be sent an invitation later in the day,” one source disclosed.
An official invitation signed by Lt. Cdr. T. F. George on behalf of the Director of Information later confirmed the development. It partly read, “You are cordially invited to the media coverage of the handing and taking over ceremony between the outgoing Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, and the incoming Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Abbas, scheduled to hold tomorrow, Tuesday, 28 October 2025.”
Until his appointment, Abbas served as the Chief of Training and Operations at the Naval Headquarters.
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