The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and a coalition of more than 75 civil society organisations (CSOs) have commended President Bola Tinubu for sacking the service chiefs, describing the move as bold, timely, and in the national interest.
In a joint statement signed by Deputy National Publicity Secretary of CNPP, James Ezema, and National Secretary of the Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs), Ali Abacha, the groups said the decision was “overdue but better late than never,” citing the persistent insecurity under the former military leadership.
“From the forests of Zamfara to the highways of Abuja–Kaduna, the creeks of the Niger Delta to the shores of the Gulf of Guinea, insecurity flourished under their watch,” the statement read.
“Kidnapping, banditry, insurgency, and piracy became daily realities for Nigerians. Their removal was not just necessary, it was inevitable,” they added.
While acknowledging that the action came later than expected, the groups praised the President for taking a decisive step to confront the country’s worsening security challenges.
They urged the new service chiefs to “hit the ground running” and deliver measurable results that would restore public confidence in the military.
“Nigerians will not celebrate mere appointments; they expect swift, visible improvements in safety across the country,” the coalition stated.
However, the groups maintained that the disengagement should be followed by a thorough investigation into the activities of the former service chiefs.
They accused them of presiding over worsening insecurity despite massive defence budgets, alleging poor accountability and possible mismanagement of funds.
“The Nigerian people deserve to know how trillions of Naira budgeted for defence and internal security were spent while insecurity worsened,” the statement read, adding: “We call on President Tinubu to constitute an independent panel to investigate whether negligence, corruption, or complicity contributed to the sustained insecurity that ravaged the country.”
The coalition further called for a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s security architecture, stressing the need to strengthen the Nigeria Police Force and restore its constitutional role as the primary agency for internal security.
