President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, met with the newly appointed service chiefs at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, in what sources described as a strategic briefing ahead of their formal assumption of office.
The meeting, held behind closed doors, had in attendance the new Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Army Staff, Major General Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke; and Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas.
Also present was the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General Emmanuel Undiendeye, who retained his position in the latest military reshuffle.
The officers, who arrived at the villa together around 4 p.m. in a black Mercedes-Benz Sprinter bus, met with the president for about 40 minutes.
Their appointments, announced last Friday, were part of what the presidency described as a strategic realignment to deepen professionalism, boost morale, and enhance inter-agency synergy within Nigeria’s security architecture.
Although no official statement was released after the meeting, sources hinted that discussions centered on the country’s prevailing security challenges and the administration’s expectations of the new military leadership.
It was further gathered that the new service chiefs are expected to formally assume duty today (Tuesday). The outgoing Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, is expected to hand over to his successor, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, at 8 a.m.
The outgoing service chiefs were appointed in 2023 and served for over two years before the latest leadership changes.
