President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday delivered a blunt directive to Nigeria’s service chiefs: “Nigerians expect results, not excuses.”
At the decoration ceremony inside the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja, the President said the time had come to end the cycle of terrorism, banditry and criminal violence that has plagued the nation since 2009.
He urged the armed forces to deploy innovation and technology to out-think emerging threats.
“We cannot allow the crisis that began in 2009 to persist any longer… Let’s stay ahead of those who threaten our peace,” Tinubu declared.
The President emphasised synergy among the services, urging the new leadership to “work together, compare notes, and defeat this enemy once and for all.”
Responding, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Olufemi Oluyede pledged loyalty and renewed commitment to democracy, calling on citizens to support the military.
“Security is our business, but without Nigerians’ support we can hardly achieve anything,” he said.
The ceremony was attended by the Vice President, Senate President, top ministers and governors.
Command Restructure and the Barracks Effect
Hours after the President’s charge, Chief of Army Staff Lt-Gen Waidi Shaibu announced a sweeping shake-up, redeploying more than 20 generals across commands and training institutions to “reinvigorate leadership and strengthen operational effectiveness.”
Analysts see the reshuffle as part of Tinubu’s effort to rebuild trust within the ranks amid investigations into a reported coup plot involving 16 officers and alleged diversion of ₦45 billion from the Niger Delta Development Commission to military accounts now under probe.
Impact Snapshot
- Security Credibility: A unified chain of command may boost public confidence after years of fragmented operations.
- Operational Readiness: The redeployments could inject fresh energy into field formations confronting new insurgent cells in the North-West and North-Central.
- Civil-Military Relations: The Defence Headquarters has reaffirmed loyalty to democracy amid rising speculation over military discontent.
The defence sector is expected to witness renewed budget activity as procurement and digital-surveillance contracts accelerate under the new strategy.
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