Tinubu Decorates Service Chiefs With New Ranks, Urges Teamwork

•We’re committed to defending Nigeria, says Musa

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, decorated the newly-appointed Chief of Defense Staff and his service chiefs with their new ranks, and charged them to sustain existing teamwork to ensure peace and stability in the country.

The president, who spoke yesterday during the decoration ceremony at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja, noted that working as a team was already yielding positive results.

But the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has also reiterated the resolve of the nation’s. security. Chiefs, saying they were committed to defending Nigeria.

The new ranks decoration ceremony followed the recent confirmation of the new military security chiefs by the National Assembly.

The newly-inaugurated service chiefs, who had acted since June, 2023 are Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-General Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, and Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla.

Speaking at the occasion, Tinubu emphasised the importance of maintaining teamwork, which he credited for the gains recorded thus far in the security sector.

He hailed the dedication, commitment and steadfastness displayed by the Armed Forces, acknowledging their significant contributions to the nation’s peace and stability.

“We have seen that we are recording positive results in our security challenges because of your dedication, commitment and steadfastness,” he said, assuring the new Service Chiefs that the government was committed to supporting them in their responsibilities.

The president underscored the value of virtues such as positive team thinking, unity, and selfless service to the nation, declaring that despite current economic challenges, a better future awaited Nigeria.

While urging all members of the Armed Forces to view themselves as one single family, regardless of their diversity, Tinubu also offered prayers for God’s blessings upon the Nigerian Armed Forces, wishing them peace, progress, and success in their endeavours to protect the country’s territorial integrity.

He further  emphasised the importance of honest service to the nation, which he said everyone in government including the service chiefs must embrace, adding that he was working very hard to solve the current economic challenges being faced by Nigerians.

“We are committed to serving you and not to rule over you,” the president said.

General Musa, who responded on behalf of the Service Chiefs,  expressed their unalloyed commitment to ensure the security and defence of the nation in their respective positions, and as well pledged to uphold with utmost dedication to the safety and wellbeing of the nation and its citizens.

His words: “Our appointment is a clear manifestation of the confidence reposed in us and recognition of our humble abilities to deliver for our dear nation. We pledge to carry out our duties with utmost dedication and full loyalty.

“I assure Mr. President that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is 100 per cent loyal to the government. We will go wherever we are ordered, whether by air, sea or land.

“We will ensure that Nigeria is projected in good light. May God bless Nigeria and guide the Armed Forces in our efforts to guard our nation’s territorial integrity, and ensure peace and security reigns supreme”.

However, speaking on the selection of the  security chiefs, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Tajudeen Abbas, who was represented by the Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Hon Babajimi Benson, commended Tinubu for making good choices, whom he described as the best from the forces and depicting national inclusion.

He further expressed hope that the new crop of service chiefs would bring a lot of changes to the nation’s security architecture, which he said might be bringing an end to the menace of insurgency in the country.