Abuja, Nigeria — October 31, 2025 | Dalena Reporters
President Bola Tinubu has issued a stern message to Nigeria’s newly appointed military leadership, demanding concrete outcomes rather than excuses as the country races to secure peace and stability. The instruction came at a formal ceremony in the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where the new service chiefs were decorated.
At the event, Tinubu acknowledged past gains — “We have restored peace to many areas previously under siege, rescued countless kidnapped citizens, and significantly diminished the capacity of terror groups.” Yet he emphasised that the security terrain remains volatile. “Security threats are constantly evolving, constantly mutating,” he said, warning of emerging armed groups across the North-Central, North-West and parts of the South, which he described as “new snakes” that must be “smashed right in the head.”
Tinubu personally charged the new service chiefs — several of whom assumed office just the previous day — with a “tremendous responsibility” to approach their duties with “the highest standards of commitment and dedication.” He said that the ceremony was more than symbolic: “It marks the beginning of our renewed effort to ensure the peace and security of all Nigerians. Each of you has been carefully selected for this critical task.
In his address, the President stated: “Nigerians expect results, not excuses. We are in a hurry to celebrate peace.” He called on the new chiefs to be “innovative, pre-emptive, and courageous,” to embrace technology where needed, to work collaboratively across security agencies, and to deliver on the security mandate without delay. Vanguard News
Responding to Tinubu’s charge, the newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, pledged full cooperation and commitment: “We are going to do our very best with the support of Mr President, the government and the good people of Nigeria… I believe we will make Nigeria safer.” Vanguard News
The service chiefs decorated at the ceremony include:
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Olufemi Oluyede (Chief of Defence Staff)
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Major-General Waidi Shaibu (Chief of Army Staff)
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Air Vice-Marshal Sunday Aneke (Chief of Air Staff)
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Rear Admiral Idi Abbas (Chief of Naval Staff)
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Major-General Emmanuel Undiendeye (retained as Chief of Defence Intelligence)
The reshuffle signals President Tinubu’s deepening resolve to counter insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and separatist violence, which continue to plague large swathes of the country. With his direct call for accountability and performance, the government appears to be shifting from rhetoric to operational urgency.