President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday approved major changes in the leadership of the armed forces with a charge to newly appointed service chiefs to be vigilant and unifying.

According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Chief Sunday Dare, yesterday, the President named former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Olufemi Oluyede as the new Chief of Defence Staff replacing Gen. Christopher Musa.

Maj-Gen. W. Shaibu was appointed the Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice-Marshal S.K. Aneke as Chief of Air Staff and Rear Admiral I. Abbas as the new Chief of Naval Staff.

Maj-Gen. E.A.P. Undiendeye retains his position as the Chief of Defence Intelligence.

All appointments, the statement said, take immediate effect.

President Tinubu, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, expressed deep appreciation to the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff, General Musa, and other retired Service Chiefs for their “patriotic service and dedicated leadership” during their tenure.

He charged the newly appointed military heads to justify the confidence reposed in them by demonstrating “enhanced professionalism, vigilance, and comradeship” in the discharge of their duties.

The shake-up in the military hierarchy comes as part of ongoing efforts by the Tinubu administration to reposition the security sector, improve coordination among the services, and sustain momentum in the fight against terrorism, banditry, and other security challenges across the country.

In a post on his verified X handle, @officialABAT, on Thursday, the President charged the newly appointed service chiefs to deepen professionalism, vigilance, and unity within the Armed Forces as they serve the nation with honour and dedication.

He said the new appointments were part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s national security architecture and enhance operational effectiveness.

He said: “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.”

President Tinubu also expressed appreciation to the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and other former Service Chiefs for their “selfless service and dedicated leadership,” assuring that the new appointments reflect his administration’s resolve to ensure a secure and stable Nigeria.

The Presidency clarified that President Tinubu’s appointment of new service chiefs was a routine administrative exercise carried out in line with his constitutional powers as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Mr. Sunday Dare, stated this while reacting to media reports suggesting that the leadership changes signaled internal discord within the administration.

He described the appointments as part of the President’s ongoing efforts to recalibrate and strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture for greater efficiency and effectiveness.

He emphasised that appointments and reappointments in the security sector remain the exclusive preserve of the President, guided by his duty to safeguard national security and ensure effective leadership within the Armed Forces.

“It is a routine. The President, as the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic can make such appointments just as he changed ministers a few months ago,” he added.

The latest changes mark another strategic recalibration of the country’s security leadership under President Tinubu’s watch, aimed at consolidating gains in the fight against terrorism, banditry and other threats to national peace.

Shake-up in military remarkable – Gen. Atolagbe

Maj-Gen Anthony Atolagbe (rtd), a former Commander of Operations Safe Haven, yesterday commended President Tinubu for the shake-up in the military amid the security challenges facing the country.

Speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Atolagbe, a former Director of Peace-keeping Operations with the Nigerian Army, said the President, in his capacity as the Commander-in-Chief, did something remarkable by replacing the service chiefs.

“This is a very bold step; it is going to make the military align properly with the procedures and the necessary steps that need to be taken in the career progression of officers. When you allow officers to overstay, you dim the light of the other ones that are behind.

“But this President has done something that is remarkable. I know that the system will be quite excited with this development,” he said.

Asked if Tinubu made some special considerations by retaining some senior officers, he said the appointments were made because the officers met the requirements for their new positions.

“They fit appropriately to where they are right now. Career progression allows for continuity in the operations that are being carried out in the country.

“Both the Chief of Army Staff and the CDS are people who are coming from the theatre and broadly aligned with the security situation within the country.

“The Chief of Defence Staff is an infantry officer, the Chief of Army Staff is an armoured officer. This aligns with proper steps that are being taken,” he added.

ADC urges transparency in changing service chiefs

On its part the African Democratic Congress (ADC) called on President Tinubu to provide clear and honest explanations to Nigerians on the reasons behind the recent changes in the leadership of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC acknowledged that the President, as Commander-in-Chief, has the constitutional authority to appoint or remove service chiefs.

However, it expressed concern that the decision came abruptly, amid public speculation about an alleged coup attempt.

The party noted that government responses to these rumours had so far lacked clarity, saying that an issue of such national importance required openness and transparency rather than what it described as “mixed signals and confusion.”

Noting that most of the outgoing service chiefs were appointed only a few months ago, making the sudden changes more surprising, it stressed that such decisions have far-reaching implications for morale and stability within the military, and therefore should be based on strong and clearly communicated reasons.

“The Federal Government owes Nigerians a categorical explanation about what truly happened,” the statement said, adding that public trust and national cohesion depend on transparent communication, especially during sensitive times.

The party reiterated that, as a responsible opposition, its primary concern remains the stability of Nigeria and the protection of democratic governance.

It expressed worries that developments in neighbouring countries such as Chad and across the Sahel underscore the need for vigilance and steady leadership at home.

While acknowledging the security challenges across different regions of the country, the ADC cautioned that the federal government appeared distracted by political considerations rather than focusing on restoring public confidence and addressing the resurgence of insecurity.

It warned that the near wholesale replacement of the military’s top hierarchy without a clear explanation could further fuel rumours and conspiracy theories, thereby undermining confidence in the government’s handling of national security.

The party urged the government to communicate openly with citizens, dispel growing speculations, and reassure the public that Nigeria’s democracy remains stable and secure.

It affirmed that transparency, accountability and responsible leadership are essential to maintaining peace, unity and public confidence in the country’s governance institutions. (The Nation, excluding headline)