President Bola Tinubu on Thursday formally decorated Nigeria’s new service chiefs at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja
The ceremony, which began shortly after 2pm, saw Tinubu joined by Vice President Kashim Shettima and the officers’ spouses, each in their respective service uniforms, as they pinned the new ranks on the appointees.
Those decorated were General Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant-General Wahidi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Air Marshal Kennedy Aneke as Chief of Air Staff, and Vice Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff.
The appointments followed the Senate’s confirmation of the four nominees on Wednesday after a two-hour closed-door screening, during which lawmakers questioned them on strategies to enhance national security and improve coordination across the armed forces. Tinubu had earlier requested an expedited confirmation to “ensure continuity in the nation’s security leadership.”
The event was attended by senior government officials, lawmakers, family members of the service chiefs, and top officers from the military.
The decorations come just a week after a major reshuffle in the military hierarchy, described by the Presidency as part of efforts to inject new direction into Nigeria’s defence architecture. The Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General E. A. P. Undiendeye, retained his position.
Addressing speculation linking the reshuffle to a supposed coup plot, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said, “The President acted within his authority as Commander-in-Chief. Service chiefs can be hired and fired by the President.”
Earlier on Monday, Tinubu met privately with the new service chiefs at the Villa. They arrived in a black Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van escorted by a green Toyota Land Cruiser for a 40-minute session, during which the President tasked them with taking decisive action against insurgents and bandits, especially in the North.
The reshuffle followed reports on October 19 alleging a coup plot by some officers, claims later dismissed by Defence Headquarters as “false and mischievous.” Brigadier-General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, said the reports stemmed from “issues of indiscipline” and were meant to “cause unnecessary tension and distrust among the populace.”
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