Nigeria’s Senate has confirmed General Olufemi Oluyede as the country’s new Chief of Defence Staff following a high-level screening session at the National Assembly in Abuja on Wednesday.
Oluyede’s confirmation came less than an hour after he and other newly appointed service chiefs arrived at the Senate complex under heavy security. The confirmation follows President Bola Tinubu’s request to the upper chamber for swift consideration of the nominees as part of a broader military reshuffle.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, while welcoming the nominees, described the exercise as a constitutional responsibility aimed at ensuring only the most competent and disciplined officers are tasked with protecting Nigeria’s sovereignty. “It is our duty to guarantee that those leading our armed forces embody professionalism and patriotism,” Akpabio told the chamber.
The Senate President added that the screening was a vital step toward strengthening the country’s security system and addressing the growing threats of terrorism, banditry, and other internal challenges. He praised the nominees for their years of dedicated service, expressing confidence in their ability to lead the military with distinction.
General Oluyede arrived at the National Assembly around 10 a.m., accompanied by other nominees — Major General Waheedi Shaibu (Army), Rear Admiral Idi Abbas (Navy), Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke (Air Force), and Major General Emmanuel Undiendeye (Defence Intelligence). The screening, chaired by Akpabio, was conducted by the Committee of the Whole.
The confirmation follows a recent closed-door meeting between President Tinubu and the service chiefs at the Presidential Villa, their first major engagement since the President’s sweeping shake-up in the nation’s security leadership. The administration described the move as part of efforts to strengthen coordination across the defence and intelligence sectors.
Tinubu, while announcing the appointments last week, commended the outgoing service chiefs for their “patriotic service” and urged the new military leadership to build on their legacies by prioritising professionalism, unity, and vigilance in defending the country.
