President Bola Tinubu has relieved the nation’s Service Chiefs of their duties and appointed new military heads in a major shake-up of Nigeria’s security hierarchy.
The development comes amid heightened security concerns and recent reports of the arrest and detention of some senior military officers over an alleged coup plot, a claim the Presidency has firmly denied.
According to a State House statement issued on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, the President named General Olufemi Oluyede as the new Chief of Defence Staff, replacing General Christopher Musa.
Major-General W. Shaibu has been appointed the new Chief of Army Staff, while Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke takes over as Chief of Air Staff. Rear Admiral I. Abbas has been named Chief of Naval Staff.
Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye, the Chief of Defence Intelligence, retains his position.
President Tinubu, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, expressed deep appreciation to the outgoing Service Chiefs for their “patriotic service and dedicated leadership,” urging the newly appointed officers to justify the confidence reposed in them.
He charged them to strengthen professionalism, vigilance, and comradeship within the Armed Forces in line with the government’s commitment to improving national security.
“All appointments take immediate effect,” the statement added.
