The Senate on Tuesday confirmed the brand new Service Chiefs and the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) nominated and forwarded to it by President Muhammadu Buhari for affirmation.
Major General Lucky Eluoye Onyenucheya Irabor was confirmed as Chief of Defence Staff.
Additionally confirmed were the nominations of Major General Ibrahim Attahiru as Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Agambi as Chief of Naval Staff; and Air Vice Marshal Isiaka O. Alao as Chief of air Staff.
The affirmation of the nominees adopted consideration of a report by the Senate Committee on Defence throughout plenary.
The nominees have been appointed by President Buhari to take-over the rein of leadership within the military from the previous Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.
Chairman of the Committee, Aliyu Margatakarda Wammako (APC, Sokoto North), in his presentation of the report stated that the Joint Committee on Defence, Army, Navy and Airforce “screened the 4 nominees and was happy with their {qualifications}, exposures, conducts, characters, experiences and Basic performances.
According to lawmaker, “the nominees have displayed vast and in-depth information on methods, techniques and military operations.”
Contributing, Senator Jibrin Barau described the nominees as “succesful” in tackling head-on the challenges offered by the spate of insecurity throughout the nation.
The Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege (APC, Delta Central) recalled that the appointment of the nominees have been made by President Buhari following persistent agitations by the National Assembly and Nigerians demanding a change of the management of the military.
Based on him, the change in Military management became crucial in view of the heightening spate of insecurity and banditry within the North-east, North-west and North-central, respectively.
“Mr. President, we’re in very perilous times with insurgency within the north-east and banditry within the north-west and north-central most particularly.
“For so lengthy, and certainly so many instances on this ground, and on the ground of our sister chamber within the Home of Representatives, there were critical agitations for changes to be effected within the military leadership of the security agencies.
“Mr. President took his time and finally acceded to this request and agitation. In doing so, the President took his time to hunt out the very best within the arms services.
“Mr. President, the intellect, the achievement and the exploits of those nominees are very effectively documented on this report,” Omo-Agege stated.
The nominees have been, thereafter, confirmed by the Senate in a Committee of the Whole.
