The Pathfinder
Thursday, October 30, 2025
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The new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lt. General Olufemi Oluyede, and other newly appointed service chiefs have proposed ways to tackle Nigeria’s security challenges.
The other new service chiefs are Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, Chief of Army Staff, General Waidi Shuaib and Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, Chief of Air Staff.
The new service chiefs, appointed by President Bola Tinubu last weekend, were yesterday confirmed by the Senate.
Speaking on behalf of the service chiefs, Gen. Oluyede proposed to the Federal Government empowering the Police with adequate funding so the force could relieve the military from internal security to concentrate on its constitutionally assigned role.
He also called for adequate funding for the military to enable it to prosecute the war against terrorism effectively, adding that the Federal Government should prioritize local production of military equipment since reliance on imports is not sustainable.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, kicked against the creation of the Coast Guard, which, he argued, would conflict with the role of the Navy.
The new Chief of Army Staff, General Waidi Shuaibu, vowed to deal decisively with the Lakurawa sect, which had terrorized some states in the country, especially in the North.
At the Senate during confirmation of the service chiefs, the Senate Leader, Michael Opeyemi Bamide (APC, Ekiti Central), moved a motion for confirmation urging his colleagues
to consider the request of the President’s nominees for appointment as Chief of Defence Staff and service chiefs, respectively, in accordance with Section 18 (1) of the Armed Forces Act.
Senator Bamidele had moved that since the Senate had earlier screened and cleared Oluyede for the position of Chief of Army Staff, there was no need for him to be screened any longer.
At this point, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, overruled him, saying since the new CDS is being appointed into a new position, it is pertinent for him to speak to the senators about himself, his career, and his experience, especially as Chief of Army Staff.
Speaking when he appeared before the Senate for screening, Oluyede, who highlighted his over 30 years of military service, during which he obtained several professional qualifications and attended various strategic courses, described his tenure as Chief of Army Staff as challenging but noted that insecurity in Nigeria had reduced significantly under his watch.
He, however, stressed the need for greater support from Nigerians and increased resources for the military, lamenting that inadequate funding is limiting the fight against terrorism.
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