President Bola Tinubu on Thursday decorated the newly confirmed service chiefs with their official ranks at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The brief ceremony, which commenced shortly after 2pm, was conducted by the President alongside Vice President Kashim Shettima and the officers’ spouses, all clad in their respective service uniforms.
Those decorated were General Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff; Lieutenant-General Wahidi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff; Air Marshal Kennedy Aneke as Chief of Air Staff; and Vice Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff.
The Senate had on Wednesday confirmed the nominees after a closed-door screening that lasted about two hours, during which lawmakers grilled them on strategies to strengthen national security and enhance inter-agency coordination.
Tinubu had earlier written to the upper chamber seeking speedy confirmation “to ensure continuity in the nation’s security leadership.”
Dignitaries at the event included senior government officials, lawmakers, military top brass, and family members of the newly decorated officers.
The President, Vice President, and the officers’ spouses jointly performed the decoration.
The ceremony came barely a week after the Presidency announced a major shake-up in the military hierarchy, described by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, as part of efforts to inject fresh direction into the nation’s defence structure.