The newly appointed Service Chiefs, confirmed by the Senate on Wednesday, have unveiled their plans to address Nigeria\u2019s complex security problems. They emphasized the need for stronger police capability, local military production, and greater inter-agency collaboration to restore lasting peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, urged the Federal Government to adequately fund the Nigeria Police Force, allowing the military to focus on its constitutional duty of defending the nation from external threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEmpowering the police will enable the Army to concentrate on external defence and counter-terrorism,\u201d he said, stressing that the fight against insecurity must be a collective national effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oluyede, who previously served as Chief of Army Staff (COAS), also advocated for improved funding for the armed forces and prioritisation of local defence manufacturing, warning that dependence on imported weapons was unsustainable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said: \u201cNigeria must develop its own capacity to confront emerging threats from terrorism to cybercrime. If we fail to manage information and build self-reliance, our challenges will persist.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Senate confirmed the appointments of Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede (CDS), Rear Admiral Idi Abbas (Chief of Naval Staff), and Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke (Chief of Air Staff) after considering the motion moved by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended General Oluyede\u2019s record of field command and praised his leadership in reducing insecurity nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou are a general who leads from the front. Since you assumed office, there\u2019s been no area where the Boko Haram flag has been hoisted. You have saved the nation from countless threats,\u201d Akpabio said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, strongly opposed the proposed creation of a Nigerian Coast Guard, describing it as unnecessary duplication of the Navy\u2019s statutory functions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t need another agency performing the same role,\u201d he argued. \u201cHalf the funds proposed for the Coast Guard should be given to the Navy to improve its operational capacity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Abbas also highlighted ongoing efforts to tackle oil theft and maritime insecurity through the use of drones and modern technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOil theft often occurs in hard-to-reach areas. With drone surveillance and better logistics, we can monitor and respond more effectively,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He further revealed the establishment of a Special Operations Command in Makurdi, Benue State, to secure the Benue\u2013Lokoja corridor and inland waterways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On reintegration of repentant insurgents, Abbas stressed a community-driven approach, saying victims\u2019 families must be consulted to promote reconciliation and acceptance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRehabilitation should not ignore those who suffered losses. Healing must involve all affected communities,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Abbas also emphasised the Navy\u2019s commitment to its Total Spectrum Maritime Strategy, designed to address piracy, oil theft, coastal banditry, and kidnapping through inter-agency synergy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new Chief of Army Staff, Major General Waidi Shaibu, vowed to decisively eliminate the Lakurawa terrorist group, which has been responsible for attacks in several northern states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe will deal decisively with the Lakurawa bandits. They will have no room to regroup or threaten our people,\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shaibu recounted his combat experience in Borno State, where he led key operations against Boko Haram insurgents in 2015, promising to build on past successes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, promised to lead a disciplined, highly trained, and technologically advanced Air Force capable of outmatching adversaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA man running from you has no time to plan against you,\u201d he said, stressing the need for constant air superiority through intelligence, precision strikes, and rapid deployment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aneke noted that his leadership vision rests on training, technology, safety, and innovation, adding that \u201ctrue military power lies not in brute force, but in strategic adaptability and superior intellect.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nigeria\u2019s new service chiefs have pledged to adopt a comprehensive, intelligence-driven, and community-supported strategy to confront the nation\u2019s diverse security challenges from terrorism and banditry to maritime crime and cyber threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They also called for greater synergy among security agencies, enhanced funding, and local production of military assets to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers and build a self-sustaining defence system.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The newly appointed Service Chiefs, confirmed by the Senate on Wednesday, have unveiled their plans to address Nigeria\u2019s complex security problems. They emphasized the need for stronger police capability, local…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":16947,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16945","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pages"],"yoast_head":"\n