Senate Confirms Major General Waheedi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff — The Bureau News Nigeria News Today
By Andrew Haruna | The Bureau News
The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday confirmed Major General Waheedi Shaibu as the new Chief of Army Staff, directing him to “take a bow” and assume office immediately. His confirmation came barely an hour after the upper chamber also cleared General Olufemi Oluyede as the new Chief of Defence Staff, signalling the start of formal approval for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s newly appointed service chiefs.
Senate Holds Tight-Security Session in Abuja
The confirmation session, held at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, took place under heavy security as lawmakers conducted both open and closed-door assessments of the nominees. Presiding over the exercise, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described it as a constitutional responsibility to ensure that only competent and patriotic officers lead Nigeria’s security institutions.
“There is no need to ask them too many questions because we will be having a closed-door session with them,” Akpabio said, assuring the nominees of the Senate’s confidence in their capabilities.
Lawmakers Express Confidence in Shaibu
Senator Isah Jubrin, representing Kogi East, expressed optimism about Shaibu’s leadership potential, noting that he had known the new Army Chief personally for three decades.
“Shaibu is humble and takes his job very seriously. I have known him for 30 years, and I believe he has what it takes to move Nigeria out of its current security challenges,” Jubrin stated.
Other senators echoed similar sentiments, applauding President Tinubu’s choice as a step toward strengthening Nigeria’s armed forces amid ongoing security operations nationwide.
Full List of Newly Appointed Service Chiefs
President Tinubu’s letter requesting the screening and confirmation of the new service chiefs was read by Akpabio on Tuesday. The nominees include:
- Chief of Defence Staff — General Olufemi Oluyede
- Chief of Army Staff — Major General Waheedi Shaibu
- Chief of Naval Staff — Rear Admiral Idi Abbas
- Chief of Air Staff — Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke
The Senate’s Committee of the Whole completed the screening and adopted a motion confirming all four nominees. Akpabio explained that the screening, originally planned for next week, was brought forward to allow the new military chiefs to assume duty without delay.
Tinubu’s Security Reforms Take Shape
The Bureau News reports that the confirmation of the new service chiefs is a key part of President Tinubu’s ongoing effort to restructure Nigeria’s national security architecture and enhance synergy among the armed forces. The new chiefs are expected to immediately begin strategic coordination to address insurgency, banditry, and emerging security threats across the country.