Soludo says reshuffle will strengthen security
President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, met with the newly appointed service chiefs at the State House, Abuja. This was as the Coalition of Northeast Youth Group Leaders issued a seven-day ultimatum to Tinubu to review the operations and leadership of the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).
Meanwhile, the Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo, congratulated the new service chiefs, describing their appointment as a pivotal step towards strengthening the security architecture of the country.
Tinubu’s closed-door meeting with the service chiefs, which was held three days after their appointment, marked the President’s first formal engagement with the new military leadership.
According to the Presidency, the new appointments reflect a strategic realignment aimed at deepening professionalism, boosting troop morale and strengthening inter-agency coordination in national security operations.
In attendance were the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj-Gen Waheedi Shaibu; Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Rear Admiral Idi Abbas; Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke; and Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), Maj-Gen Emmanuel Undiendeye (who retained his position).
Although details of the President’s charge to the service chiefs were not immediately disclosed, Aso Villa sources said discussions focused on security priorities, counter-terrorism operations, and the administration’s commitment to sustaining peace and stability across the country.
THE youth coalition warned that failure to probe the ONSA would lead to peaceful demonstrations across the country. Chairman of the coalition, Mohammed Adamu, in a statement yesterday, in Abuja, commended the President for the courageous replacement of the service chiefs.
While describing the move as a historic step towards reforming Nigeria’s security architecture, the group said the sack would remain incomplete without a thorough review of the NSA’s office, which it accused of inefficiency and weak coordination.
Adamu stressed that the call was not for punishment but for reform and transparency, urging Tinubu to audit recent operations, decisions and coordination mechanisms under the NSA to ensure they align with his renewed security vision.
The coalition said: “The dismissal of the service chiefs demonstrates the President’s firm commitment to restructure the national security architecture and reposition the armed forces on a foundation of professionalism, loyalty and renewed public confidence.
“However, we believe the President’s mission of renewal and accountability remains incomplete without a broader assessment of the national security leadership, particularly the ONSA. We, therefore, call for a review of the performance, structure and coordination mechanisms under the NSA to ensure that the reforms achieve their intended results.”
SOLUDO, in his goodwill message, commended the appointments as representing a pivotal step towards strengthening the security architecture of our great nation.
His Chief Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, stated that the governor expressed confidence in the leadership, expertise and experience the seasoned military professionals bring to their new roles at this critical time,as the nation faces evolving security challenges.
According to Aburime, the governor asserted the imperative of the service chiefs to engage with all stakeholders for a unified approach to tackling insecurity in Nigeria and securing the lives and properties of all Nigerians.
The governor also reaffirmed the commitment of the Anambra State government to support the Federal Government and the newly appointed security chiefs in their efforts to combat insecurity in the South-East as well as foster a peaceful, safe environment for all citizens.
