The Senate on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of four new Service Chiefs, marking a major shift in Nigeria’s security leadership and lending strong legislative backing to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s defence reform agenda.
After an exhaustive screening by the Committee of the Whole, lawmakers unanimously approved the nominations of:
Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff
Major General Waidi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff
Air Vice Marshal Sunday K. Aneke as Chief of Air Staff
The confirmation, which dominated plenary, received bipartisan support and was described by legislators as a necessary step to reposition the Armed Forces amid escalating security challenges.
Announcing the decision, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the new Service Chiefs are “battle-tested, reform-minded professionals,” expressing confidence in their capacity to strengthen military operations and restore public trust.
> “This Senate believes these officers are capable of restoring stability, professionalism, and renewed hope in our military institutions. Security is a shared responsibility, and these appointments reflect a shared national commitment,” Akpabio said.
He noted that the Senate suspended all other legislative business to prioritise the screening, citing the urgency of addressing national security threats from insurgency, banditry, oil theft and secessionist violence.
The Presidency welcomed the confirmation, describing it as a “victory for executive–legislative cooperation.” In a personally signed statement, Senator Basheer Lado, Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, commended the lawmakers’ swift action.
> “This process reflects the President’s commitment to effective governance and national security. The Senate has demonstrated patriotism and responsibility in its prompt consideration of the nominees,” he said.
Lado added that the new appointments represent a strategic recalibration of Nigeria’s defence posture, shifting from reactive operations to coordinated intelligence-driven security responses.
The new Service Chiefs replace their predecessors, who were relieved of duty earlier in October amid growing concerns over operational fatigue and declining troop morale.
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Closing the plenary, Akpabio called on the newly confirmed military chiefs to justify the confidence reposed in them.
“Nigeria is watching. This is not just a change of command—it is a call to service and a test of leadership,” he said, praying for “divine guidance” as they assume office.
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