Buhari swears in service chiefs

Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the service chiefs to identify competent officers to improve the security in the country.

Buhari gave the charge at the swearing-in ceremony of the service chiefs – Chief Maj Gen LEO Irabor (Defense), Maj Gen I Attahiru (Army), Rear Adm AZ Gambo (Navy), and AVM IO Alao (Air Force) in Abuja.

“I have charged the new Service Chiefs to keep in mind that the nation is looking to them for rapid relief,” Buhari said.

“They must identify competent officers irrespective of seniority and paper qualifications, and work with them to secure this country. As C-in-C I am backing them 100 percent.

“As I assured at our last security meeting, I have taken responsibility as C-in-C for them to go out into the fields and every part of the country, to ensure peace and security.

“I have accepted responsibility for all actions taken in fulfillment of the mandate to secure Nigeria.”

Buhari appointed the service chiefs on Tuesday, January 26 when he replaced the former service chiefs who had been in office in 2015.

Irabor replaced Defense Chief Abayomi Olonisakin, while Army Chief Tukur Buratai is succeeded by Attahiru. Gambo replaced replacing Navy Chief Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas while Alao took over from Air Chief Sadique Abubakar.

Buhari thereafter appointed the former service chiefs as non-career ambassador.