The Senate on Wednesday confirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s nominees for the positions of service chiefs.
Those confirmed include General Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Waheedi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff, and Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke as Chief of Air Staff.
Naijaonpoint had earlier reported that Tinubu wrote to the Red Chamber seeking expeditious screening and confirmation of the nominees.
During Wednesday’s plenary, the Senate suspended other business to focus on the exercise. A closed-door session lasting over two hours allowed lawmakers to engage the nominees on plans to strengthen intelligence coordination, modernise military operations, and restore public trust in the Armed Forces.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio later subjected the confirmation to a voice vote, which was unanimously approved.
Speaking after the confirmation, Akpabio commended President Tinubu for his choices, describing the nominees as seasoned officers capable of repositioning the military.
He said, “Distinguished colleagues, the Senate had deliberations with the nominees of Mr. President for the offices of Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Chief of Army Staff, and Chief of Defence Staff. All the senators interacted with them, and there were various suggestions and questions from all the states of the federation, including the FCT. They answered all questions.”
Akpabio added that the confirmation reflected “renewed national confidence” in the administration’s security reforms.
“On the whole, we believe this will renew the hope of Nigerians in respect of restoring security to our nation. Although security is everybody’s business, we found them fit and very capable, almost all of them emerging from the theatres of war in different parts of the world and the country,” he said.
The Senate President further praised lawmakers for dedicating the entire sitting to the screening.
“We congratulate President Bola Tinubu for making these choices, and also congratulate the Nigerian Senate for suspending every other item to go into this issue of screening, approval, and confirmation. May God Almighty guide all the service chiefs, together with the Chief of Defence Staff, to add value and enhance the security of lives and property in our nation,” Akpabio stated.
Tinubu appointed the new service chiefs on October 24 following reports of a foiled coup plot.
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