President Bola Tinubu on Thursday decorated the newly appointed service chiefs with their ranks at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The ceremony began shortly after 2pm and was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the spouses of the officers, senior government officials, lawmakers, and top military personnel.
Those decorated were 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.
The Senate had confirmed the four nominees on Wednesday after a closed-door screening session where they outlined plans to improve security coordination and strengthen national defence.
Tinubu had earlier urged the lawmakers to fast-track their confirmation to ensure continuity in the nation’s security leadership.
During the ceremony, the President, Vice President, and the officers’ spouses took turns pinning the new ranks on the decorated chiefs.
The event came a week after the Presidency announced a major reshuffle in the military, which retained Major General E. A. P. Undiendeye as Chief of Defence Intelligence.
In a statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, the changes were described as part of efforts to inject new energy into the country’s defence system.
Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, dismissed claims that the reshuffle was linked to rumours of a coup plot, saying the President acted within his powers as Commander-in-Chief.
“The President acted within his authority. Service chiefs can be hired and fired by the President,” Onanuga said.
Earlier in the week, Tinubu met privately with the new service chiefs at the Villa, where he reportedly tasked them to take decisive action against insurgents and bandits, especially in northern Nigeria.
The Defence Headquarters had also dismissed recent claims of a coup plot, describing reports of alleged arrests as “false and mischievous.”
Brigadier-General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, said the issue involved internal indiscipline and warned against spreading panic or distrust among citizens.
