KEY POINTS
- Tinubu’s new Service Chiefs target local arms production.
- Nigeria’s military vows technology-driven, intelligence-led operations.
- Defence overhaul aims to rebuild national trust and stability.
Nigeria’s newly appointed Service Chiefs pledged on Wednesday to rebuild the country’s fragile security framework through deeper global alliances, local weapons manufacturing, and stronger cooperation among security agencies.
The officers made the promise during a joint screening before the Senate and House of Representatives, which grilled them in closed-door sessions on strategy, intelligence, and internal security reforms.
Tinubu’s new Service Chiefs push local arms production
Chief of Defence Staff Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede said his mission is to reshape Nigeria’s military economy and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. “We can’t keep buying equipment from outside. it’s extremely expensive,” he said.
While Oluyede proposed creating a homegrown military-industrial complex and pledged improved welfare for personnel and families. He also warned lawmakers of emerging cyber and misinformation threats, calling for intelligence-led operations and police restructuring.
Army Chief Maj. Gen. Waidi Shuaibu vowed to boost morale and modernise counterinsurgency operations, recalling his past success rescuing 15 Chibok girls from terrorist enclaves. “We’ll inject fresh energy into our training,” he said.
New Service Chiefs promise unity, technology, and accountability
Navy Chief Rear Admiral Idi Abas said drones will be deployed to monitor Nigeria’s waters more effectively and curb piracy and oil theft. “Some patrols waste resources; drones will make monitoring more efficient,” he said.
Furthermore, Air Force Chief Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke vowed to “fight smartly, professionally, aggressively, and offensively,” assuring lawmakers that Super Tucano jets are now fully operational in the North.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio also said the legislative scrutiny was essential for transparency and national confidence. “Only the most competent and disciplined officers must secure our nation,” he said.
Tinubu will decorate the new Service Chiefs today at the Presidential Villa, following their confirmation by the National Assembly.
