The Senate on Wednesday confirmed General Olufemi Oluyede as the Chief of Defence Staff, marking the start of the screening process for the newly appointed service chiefs at the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
Oluyede’s confirmation came less than an hour after he and other nominees arrived at the complex under tight security.
Welcoming the nominees, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the screening was part of the Senate’s constitutional role to ensure that only competent, patriotic, and disciplined officers are entrusted with the task of defending Nigeria’s sovereignty.
“Distinguished colleagues, it is with great pleasure that I welcome our newly appointed service chiefs to the hallowed chamber of the Senate,” Akpabio said. “On behalf of the entire Senate, I congratulate you on your well-deserved appointments and commend your years of dedicated service to our great nation.”
Akpabio emphasized that the exercise was an oversight responsibility designed to promote discipline and professionalism in the military, adding that the Senate looked forward to meaningful deliberations that would strengthen Nigeria’s security framework.
He added, “Today’s screening underscores our constitutional obligation to ensure that the nation’s security is in the hands of men of integrity, competence, and patriotism.”
The confirmation followed a request from President Bola Tinubu, who in a letter read during Tuesday’s plenary, urged the Senate to expedite the screening and confirmation of his nominees.
The nominees include General Olufemi Oluyede (Chief of Defence Staff), Major General Waheedi Shaibu (Chief of Army Staff), Rear Admiral Idi Abbas (Chief of Naval Staff), Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke (Chief of Air Staff), and Major General Emmanuel Undiendeye (Chief of Defence Intelligence).
President Tinubu had earlier met with the newly appointed service chiefs at the Presidential Villa, following a major shake-up in the military hierarchy. According to the Presidency, the appointments are part of the administration’s broader effort to reinforce Nigeria’s security architecture and enhance coordination among defence and intelligence agencies.
The President also commended the outgoing service chiefs for their dedication and leadership, while urging their successors to uphold professionalism, discipline, and unity in the discharge of their duties.