The appointment of General Olufemi Oluyede by President Bola Tinubu on Friday as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) has ushered in a fresh wave of hope, excitement, and greater confidence in the Federal Government’s dedication to decisively address the country’s numerous security challenges.
Nigeria sadly still confronts security issues including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, ethnic tensions, and conflicts such as the farmer-herder clashes.
These existential threats are not strange to General Oluyede who unquestionably is a seasoned Army officer with a distinguished military background, renowned for his leadership in internal security and counter-insurgency operations, feats that have since garnered him numerous honours.
As CDS, General Oluyede becomes the professional head of the Nigerian Armed Forces and the most senior uniformed military adviser to the President- Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces and the National Security Council on military matters. His responsibilities now involves, that of overseeing coordination and collaboration across the Army, Navy, and Air Force in ensuring total and guaranteed protection of national security.
While serving as Chief of Army Staff starting from September 30, 2024, General Oluyede did not fail to bring to bear on his role, the over three decades of military experience.
Considering his rich military standing and proficiency therefore, President Tinubu is undoubtedly confident that the new CDS can strategically push his administration’s vision to improve intelligence sharing, logistics efficiency, and troop welfare, and ultimately bring fresh energy to Nigeria’s defence leadership amid persistent security challenges.
The President’s charge to the CDS Oluyede and newly appointed Service Chiefs colleague speak volume. They must collectively strive to justify the confidence reposed in them to further enhance the professionalism, vigilance and comradeship that define the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
General Oluyede who replaces General Christopher Musa as CDS, will be working with Major-General W. Shaibu- the new Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshall S. K Aneke – Chief of Air Staff and Rear Admiral I. Abbas as the new Chief of Naval Staff as well as Major-General E.A.P Undiendeye who retains his position as the Chief of Defence Intelligence.
President Tinubu at different times had reason to direct the Armed Forces, Security, and Intelligence Agencies to harmonize their operations and adopt a whole-of-society approach to combating evolving security challenges, emphasizing that joint security operational effectiveness and inter-agency collaboration remained central to addressing emerging threats effectively.
Following the shake-up in the military hierarchy, President Tinubu wrote on his verified X handle @officialABAT “I have approved changes in the hierarchy of our Armed Forces to further strengthen Nigeria’s national security architecture. I charge the new Service Chiefs to deepen professionalism, vigilance, and unity within our Armed Forces as they serve our nation with honour,”
The President’s conviction interestingly aligns with the thinking of some analysts who believe that the decision is both urgent and strategic, and underscored the administration’s resolve to restore public confidence and reclaim control from spiraling threats and killings by armed bandits in some parts of the country.
General Oluyede’s capacity to now implement the C-In-C’s directive under his command is also not in doubt. He is of the Infantry Corps and has risen in his noble profession to the rank of Leutenant General and became the 29th indigenous Chief of Army Staff.
Commissioned on 19 December 1992 in the rank of second lieutenant with seniority in the same rank effective 12 September 1987, the new CDS has to his credit high rated academic records in military trainings and courses including the Young Officers’ Course (Infantry) and Regimental Signal Officers’ Course, as well as Commanding Officers’ Course, all at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji.
He also attended the United Nations Logistics Officers’ Course at the Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Centre, Ghana and the United Nations Military Observers’ Course at the now renamed Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre, Jaji, among others.
General Oluyede also attended the prestigious Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji for his Junior and Senior Staff Courses, and is a member of the national institute and a proud alumnus of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), where he did his Senior Executive Course.
Besides his extensive operational experience in Nigeria’s northeast with Operation HADIN KAI and leadership positions in the Infantry Corps and Amphibious Training School, his additional expertise will now prove valuable.
The new Chief of Defence Staff needs to take advantage of the pledge by Governors of the 36 States under the aegies of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) that they would help to deepen intelligence sharing and coordination with the Department of State Services (DSS) in further tackling security threats, violent extremism, and inter-communal tensions across the country.
This stakeholder support for the States remains vital. Addressing insecurity is a collective responsibility that demands active participation from all members of society. Everyone will be watching closely to see how General Oluyede rallies his colleagues toward achieving this shared goal.
