President Bola Tinbu on Thursday decorated the newly appointed service chiefs with their ranks at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The event, which began shortly after 2 p.m., had Vice President Kashim Shettima and the officers’ spouses assisting the President in pinning the new ranks. The service chiefs, dressed in their full uniforms, were accompanied by family members and senior military officers.
Those decorated include General Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant-General Wahidi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Air Marshal Kennedy Aneke as Chief of Air Staff, and Vice Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff.
In his address, President Tinubu congratulated the new service chiefs on their appointments and Senate confirmation, charging them to approach their duties with utmost dedication and professionalism.
“Today’s ceremony goes beyond the symbolism of decoration,” Tinubu said. “It marks the beginning of our renewed effort to ensure peace and security across Nigeria. Each of you has been carefully selected for this critical task.”
The President emphasized that security remains the foundation of national progress and that the government’s foremost duty is to protect its citizens.
“Security is an essential element without which everything else is meaningless,” he said. “There can be no real development if people live in fear. Our nation must remain secure for governance to have meaning.”
Tinubu commended the armed forces for their resilience and sacrifices in reclaiming territories once held by insurgents, rescuing kidnapped citizens, and restoring peace to troubled regions.
However, he cautioned that new security threats are emerging in the North-Central, North-West, and parts of the South, warning the new service chiefs to act swiftly and decisively.
“We must not allow these new threats to fester,” he said. “We must be proactive and smash the new snakes right in the head.”
The President urged the military leadership to adopt innovation, technology, and foresight in addressing insecurity, stressing that Nigerians expect tangible results.
“Be innovative, preemptive, and courageous,” he charged. “We cannot allow the crisis that began in 2009 to continue any longer.”
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Tinubu decorates new service chiefs
Tinubu assured the new service chiefs of his administration’s full support, pledging to provide the necessary resources to strengthen national security.
“I wish you success as you take up this challenge,” he concluded. “May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria and continue to keep our armed forces safe.”
