ABUJA, NIGERIA – After an intensive screening process, the Nigerian Senate confirmed the appointments of the country’s new Service Chiefs on Thursday, July 13, 2023.
The officers were appointed by President Bola Tinubu and their confirmations mark the latest step in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to bolster its security forces.
The Senate session, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabío, involved detailed screenings of each nominee.
The new Service Chiefs were asked to introduce themselves as part of the chamber’s standard protocol.
Following these introductions, senators retreated into a closed-door session to deliberate on the nominees’ qualifications and discuss broader security issues.
The in-camera session lasted three hours, after which the Senate reconvened to debate and confirm the appointments.
Major General Christopher G Musa was confirmed as the Chief of Defence Staff, Major General T.A Lagbaja was confirmed as the Chief of Army Staff, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla was confirmed as Chief Naval Staff, and Air Vice Marshal H. B. Abubakar was confirmed as the Chief of Air Staff.
The Senate approved the nominations through voice votes, signalling a collective endorsement of President Tinubu’s choices.
The confirmed appointments of these new Service Chiefs underscore the urgency of addressing Nigeria’s complex security challenges and the importance of leadership in the military.
The nation, and indeed the world, now awaits the impact of their strategic efforts to ensure national security and stability in Nigeria.
