The President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made changes in the military top hierarchy, removing the three Service Chiefs and appointing new ones to take charge immediately.
The development is coming on the heels of a rumoured attempt to plan a coup to overthrow the Tinubu administration fueled more by the reported arrest of 16 senior military officers.
According to Mr. Sunday Dare, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, this is “in furtherance of the efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria to strengthen the national security architecture,”
According to the statement, the President appointed General Olufemi Oluyede to replace General Christopher Musa as the new Chief of Defence Staff.
“The newly appointed Chief of Army Staff is Major-General W. Shaibu. Air Vice Marshall S.K Aneke is the new Chief of Air Staff, while Rear Admiral I. Abbas is the new Chief of Naval Staff. Chief of Defence Intelligence Major-General E.A.P Undiendeye retained his position.
“The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, expressed most profound appreciation to the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa and the other Service Chiefs for their patriotic service and dedicated leadership,” the statement further read.
Tinubu charged the newly appointed Service Chiefs to justify the confidence reposed in them by further enhancing the professionalism, vigilance and comradeship that define Nigeria’s Armed Forces.
All appointments take immediate effect.
