•As New Service Chiefs assume duty
•Vow to sustain fight against terrorists,
bandits, others
•Oluyede promises accountability, discipline, others
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday gave marching orders to the nation’s new security chiefs, saying that their topmost priority must be to end the security crisis the country is facing.
The president, who said the time for entertaining excuses was over, asked them to immediately ramp up the counter-insurgency operations and decimate emerging armed groups.
Tinubu gave the orders at the decoration ceremony of the security chiefs held inside the State House, Abuja.
He said, though, the military had recorded impressive gains over the years, he wanted them to be more aggressive now by ending the security challenges.
The president said, “The emergence of new armed groups in the North-Central, North-West and parts of the South is of grave concern.
“We must not allow these new threats to fester. We must be decisive and proactive. Let us smash the new snakes right in the head.”
According to him, no meaningful development can take place in the midst of insecurity, stressing that protecting citizens remained the government’s core function.
“Security is an essential element without which everything else is rendered meaningless,” he told the new chiefs, noting that economic growth would remain stagnant in the absence of peace.
Tinubu paid tribute to the military for the sacrifices they made in preserving the country’s territorial integrity, adding that many officers and men paid the supreme price in battles to safeguard Nigeria.
While acknowledging these efforts, the president, however, said the evolving security landscape required the new security heads to think beyond traditional frameworks to apply ideas that placed them ahead of the enemies, including deployment of technology.
“We cannot allow the crisis that began in 2009 to persist any longer. Nigerians expect results, not excuses”, he told them.
The president assured the military of government’s support at all times, saying that their welfare and equipment would be promptly addressed.
With the decoration, the service chiefs now have new ranks – Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant- General Wahidi Shaibu; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke.
All the four service chiefs were on Wednesday unanimously confirmed by the National Assembly.
In his farewell address, the immediate past CDS, General C.G. Musa, urged the officers and the personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) to cooperate with General Oluyede in national interest .
Speaking during the handing and taking over ceremony, the new CDS said. that he was taking the job with high sense of responsibility and reaffirmed his commitment to the security of the nation .
He assured that accountability, discipline, adequate welfare, loyalty and professionalism would be the centre focus, while fight against banditry, terrorists and all forms of criminality would be pursued vigorously .
COAS pledges legacy of exemplary leadership
Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu on Thursday assumed office as the 25th Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of the Nigerian Army with a pledge to consolidate and build on the remarkable legacies of his predecessor, while enhancing synergy among security agencies and government institutions to strengthen national security.
Speaking at the handing and taking over ceremony between him and the immediate past COAS, and the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Oluyede, at the Army Headquarters, Abuja, General Shaibu, assured that he would review the current security situation and respond swiftly to evolving threats, stressing his commitment to improving operational efficiency and troop morale.
The new COAS commended General Oluyede for his outstanding leadership, mentorship and support to the Nigerian Army.
He further lauded the achievements of General Oluyede, particularly in the areas of equipment procurement and infrastructural development which prioritised troops’ welfare and operational readiness.
He saluted the courage, passion, resilience and discipline of the troops in the field and reaffirmed that their sacrifices remained the cornerstone of the collective success of the Service.
He appreciated President Bola Tinubu for finding him worthy of the new position and promised to serve the nation with all his abilities in ending insurgency activities in the country.
In his valedictory remarks, General Oluyede expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his visionary leadership and the privilege to serve as COAS and now as CDS.
Abbas vows to tackle oil theft
Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, on Thursday, assumed office as the 23rd Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) at a handing and taking over ceremony held at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja with a promise to intensify the fight against crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and other maritime crimes threatening Nigeria’s economy.
Speaking during the handing-over ceremony, he acknowledged that despite notable achievements, Nigeria’s maritime environment remained threatened by crude oil theft, sea robbery, illegal fishing, drug trafficking and other maritime crimes that jeopardise national security and economic prosperity.
He, however, promised that during his tenure as the CNS, he would address all the challenges squarely, including improving maritime security, enhancing fleet capability through aggressive fleet renewal and increased use of technology, prioritising personnel training and welfare as well as strengthening collaboration with other security agencies.
He assured personnel that their welfare would remain a top priority, vowing to lead by example and maintain open communication. “I promise to lead from the front, to listen and to ensure that your welfare remains a top priority,” he stated.
Earlier, the immediate CNS, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Nkechukw Ogala, had commended President Bola Tinubu for the opportunity given him to serve the nation and urged the officers and the entire personnel of the service to cooperate with the new CNS.
Aneke promises sustained fight against insurgency
Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, on Thursday officially assumed duty as the 23rd Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) with a promise to consolidate on the achievements of his predecessor, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, whose tenure was marked by professionalism, courage and exceptional achievements, particularly in the fight against insurgency activities in the country .
Speaking during the handing and taking over ceremony in Abuja, Aneke described his appointment as a privilege and a solemn duty, pledging to lead with humility, integrity and commitment to national security.
Aneke reiterated that his appointment was both a tremendous privilege and a solemn duty, while expressing gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the confidence reposed in him.
He reaffirmed the unflinching loyalty of the Nigerian Air Force to the president, the constitution and the Nigerian people, assuring that under his leadership, the NAF would remain willing, able and ready to safeguard the nation’s airspace, strengthen inter-service synergy as well as deliver the security architecture vital to Nigeria’s peace and transformation.
Ndume to CDS, Service Chief: Ensure your personnel are well motivated
Former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, has urged the new CDS and the Service Chiefs to push for better remuneration for the Nigerian Armed Forces personnel to boost their motivation.
The lawmaker gave the advice on Thursday in a statement he issued in Abuja on the heels of decoration of the officers with their new ranks by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Senator representing Borno South, who incidentally was the former Chairman, Senate Committee on Army in the Ninth Senate, maintained that better remuneration was key in boosting the morale of the military in the fight against insurgency, banditry and other threats inimical to security of lives and property of Nigerians.
The lawmaker also advocated that the present administration should ensure that the military budget be accorded priority by being placed in the First Line Charge.
