Military Shake-Up: Newly Appointed Service Chiefs Face Senate Confirmation [Photos]

The newly appointed Service Chiefs arrived at the National Assembly complex on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, for their Senate screening. They reached the premises around 10 a.m., accompanied by senior military officials.

The Senate had initially planned the exercise for next week but rescheduled it to Wednesday following a letter from President Bola Tinubu, which was read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary. In the letter, Tinubu urged lawmakers to expedite the confirmation process to ensure seamless continuity in the nation’s security leadership.

Akpabio noted that the revised date would allow the new military chiefs to assume their duties without delay.

On October 24, Tinubu announced a reshuffle in the Armed Forces hierarchy, appointing General Olufemi Oluyede as the new Chief of Defence Staff, replacing General Christopher Musa. Other appointments include Major-General W. Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke as Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral I. Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff. Major-General Emmanuel Undiendeye retained his position as Chief of Defence Intelligence. The announcements, made by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, took immediate effect.

General Oluyede, who became Chief of Army Staff last year following the death of General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, now replaces General Musa as CDS. The outgoing service chiefs, including Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla and Air Marshal Bala Abubakar, had been in office since June 2023.

During their tenure, they oversaw major operations against Boko Haram, ISWAP, and armed bandits in the North-East and North-West. While achieving notable successes, ongoing attacks across the country fueled demands for fresh leadership and a strategic shift in tackling insecurity.