The Nigerian Senate has confirmed President Bola Tinubu’s nominees for the country’s top military positions, following a two-hour closed-door screening session.
The newly confirmed service chiefs were Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff, Wahidi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff, and Kelvin Aneke as Chief of Air Staff.
The confirmation comes as part of President Tinubu’s efforts to strengthen the nation’s security architecture and modernise the armed forces.
During the closed-door session, senators engaged the nominees on their plans to enhance intelligence coordination, improve operational efficiency, and restore public trust in the military.
The lawmakers sought detailed responses on how the new leadership would tackle security challenges and reposition the armed forces for effective service delivery.
Following the questioning, Senate President Godswill Akpabio conducted a voice vote, which resulted in the unanimous approval of all nominees.
Akpabio commended President Tinubu for his selections, emphasising that the appointees possess the necessary experience, credibility, and leadership qualities to drive reforms in the military.
The Senate President further described the exercise as a demonstration of patriotic duty, noting that dedicating the entire plenary session to the confirmation process underscored the legislature’s commitment to national security.
He said the confirmation represented renewed confidence in the government’s security strategy and sends a clear signal that the administration is focused on protecting lives and property across the country.
President Tinubu had earlier urged the Senate to expedite the confirmation process to ensure effective coordination of the nation’s security apparatus.
The confirmation of these new service chiefs marks a significant step in the administration’s broader security reforms, which aim to modernise the military, strengthen internal security, and enhance public confidence in national defense institutions.
