By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyechukwu, Abuja
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s newly nominated service chiefs were on Wednesday screened and confirmed by the Senate, with General Olufemi Oluyede officially named the Chief of Defence Staff.
The confirmation came less than an hour after the nominees arrived at the National Assembly complex in Abuja under tight security, signaling the start of the screening exercise.
Welcoming them to the chamber, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the exercise as a constitutional duty aimed at ensuring only competent officers are entrusted with the nation’s security architecture.
“Distinguished colleagues, it is with great pleasure that I welcome our newly appointed Service Chiefs to the hallowed chamber of the Senate. On behalf of the entire Senate, I congratulate you on your well-deserved appointments and commend you for the years of dedicated service to our great nation,” Akpabio said.
He noted that the screening aligned with the Senate’s oversight responsibility to uphold discipline, professionalism, and accountability within the Armed Forces.
The confirmation followed a letter from President Tinubu, read during Tuesday’s plenary, seeking the Senate’s “expeditious consideration” of the appointments.
Those confirmed include:
Gen. Olufemi Oluyede – Chief of Defence Staff
Maj. Gen. Waheedi Shaibu – Chief of Army Staff
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas – Chief of Naval Staff
Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke – Chief of Air Staff
Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Undiendeye – Chief of Defence Intelligence
The development came just days after President Tinubu met with the nominees behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa — his first engagement with the new military hierarchy following last week’s sweeping security shake-up.
According to the Presidency, the appointments form part of the administration’s efforts to strengthen national security coordination and improve synergy among security agencies.
President Tinubu had earlier lauded the outgoing service chiefs for their patriotic service and urged the new appointees to justify the confidence reposed in them by upholding professionalism, unity, and vigilance across the Armed Forces.