The Senate has confirmed Major General Waheedi Shaibu as the new Chief of Army Staff, directing him to take office immediately. His confirmation followed shortly after the upper legislative chamber cleared General Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff, signaling the commencement of the screening process for President Bola Tinubu’s newly appointed service chiefs.
The exercise, conducted on Wednesday at the National Assembly complex in Abuja, held under heightened security arrangements as lawmakers alternated between open and closed sessions to assess the nominees.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the session, said the confirmations were in line with constitutional expectations to ensure that only capable and patriotic officers are entrusted with the nation’s security leadership.
“There is no need to ask them too many questions because we will be having a closed-door session with them,” Akpabio told his colleagues, urging a swift process.
Senator Isah Jubrin (Kogi East), who attested to Shaibu’s competence, described the new Army Chief as a disciplined and dedicated officer with a proven track record.
“The officer is well known to me. I have known him for 30 years. Shaibu is humble and takes his job very seriously. I believe he has what it takes to move Nigeria out of the security challenges the country is experiencing today,” Jubrin said.
The confirmation of both Shaibu and Oluyede marks a significant step in President Tinubu’s ongoing overhaul of the military hierarchy, aimed at strengthening the country’s security response amid rising insurgency, banditry and other internal threats.
