Senate Confirms Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff Amid Renewed Push for Security Reform

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of General Olufemi Oluyede as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), following a swift screening exercise that underscored the upper chamber’s resolve to strengthen national security leadership.

The confirmation came less than an hour after Oluyede and other service chief nominees arrived at the National Assembly complex in Abuja under heavy security.

During the plenary session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the screening as a constitutional obligation and reaffirmed the Senate’s commitment to ensuring that the most competent officers assume command positions in the Nigerian Armed Forces.

“Today’s exercise is in keeping with our constitutional duty to provide oversight and ensure that only the most disciplined and patriotic officers are entrusted with safeguarding our territorial integrity,” Akpabio stated.

Leading the delegation, Oluyede appeared before the Senate Committee of the Whole alongside Major General Waheedi Shaibu (Chief of Army Staff), Rear Admiral Idi Abbas (Chief of Naval Staff), Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke (Chief of Air Staff), and Major General Emmanuel Undiendeye (Chief of Defence Intelligence).

Their appearance followed a request from President Bola Tinubu, who urged the Senate to expedite the confirmation process as part of his administration’s ongoing defence sector reforms. The new appointments, Tinubu noted, are intended to reinvigorate the command structure and enhance inter-agency coordination in response to growing security challenges across the country.

The confirmation comes just days after the President met privately with the newly appointed service chiefs at the Presidential Villa, where he charged them to uphold professionalism, unity, and vigilance in the discharge of their duties.

Oluyede, a seasoned military strategist, takes over from General Christopher Musa, who retired after completing his tenure. His appointment signals what observers describe as a new phase in Nigeria’s counterterrorism and internal security operations, with expectations high for more proactive measures against insurgency, banditry, and cross-border crimes.

The Defence Headquarters is expected to release a formal statement as Oluyede assumes office later this week.