Tinubu Decorates New Service Chiefs: President Orders Military to "Crush Emerging Threats" Amid Security Reset
Abuja, Nigeria | October 30, 2025
By: Elvis Ifeanyi
In a powerful move to overhaul Nigeria's struggling security apparatus, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday formally decorated the newly appointed Service Chiefs of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The President issued a decisive mandate, charging the new military leaders to immediately "crush emerging threats" and restore widespread public confidence in the nation's defence capabilities.
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| President and Newly Appointed Chiefs |
Major Military Shake-up: New Chiefs and Fresh Mandates
The decoration follows a sweeping military shake-up announced on October 24, 2025, which saw all previous top service chiefs replaced following persistent security failures and reported internal disquiet.
The newly decorated leadership, confirmed by the National Assembly, includes:
1. General Olufemi Oluyede – Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) (Replaced Christopher Gwabin Musa)
2. Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu – Chief of Army Staff (COAS)
3. Vice Admiral Idi Abbas – Chief of Naval Staff (CNS)
4. Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke – Chief of Air Staff (CAS)
5. Lieutenant General E.A.P. Undiendeye – Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI) (Retained and Promoted)
Speaking at the Presidential Villa ceremony in Abuja, President Tinubu was uncompromising, demanding measurable results in the fight against Nigeria’s complex security challenges. These threats include the enduring insurgency in the Northeast, widespread banditry and kidnapping, separatist agitations, and burgeoning cyber-enabled risks.
> “Nigerians expect results, not excuses... I charge you also to be innovative, pre-emptive, and courageous," President Tinubu stated, warning the new leadership against complacency and calling for unified purpose and enhanced professionalism.
This significant overhaul reflects mounting government frustration over the country's persistent security crisis. Analysts view the shake-up as a necessary strategic reset, driven by the high frequency of base over-runs, sophisticated attacks, and growing internal unrest that had signaled a crisis of leadership within the Armed Forces.
By injecting fresh faces into the top command—and signalling a zero-tolerance posture toward failure—the President aims to re-energize the war efforts and decisively reset the chain of command.
Key Implications for Nigeria's Security Outlook The new chiefs are under immediate pressure to translate their appointments into tangible security improvements on the ground. Key areas to watch include:
Operational Effectiveness: Focus on improved troop morale, rapid response times, and better inter-agency intelligence-sharing to dominate threats.
Restoring Public Trust: Success will be measured by a visible decline in high-profile attacks and a return to secure local communities across flashpoints.
Internal Cohesion: The President's emphasis on "unity of purpose" signals a direct effort to curb intra-service rivalry and fragmentation, which has often undermined joint operations.
Political Signal: The move sends a clear message that the current administration is willing to shuffle the top security brass when performance lags, potentially impacting future military-civil relations.