President Bola Tinubu on Monday held a high-profile meeting with the newly appointed service chiefs at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, marking their first official engagement since their appointment last Friday.  

The delegation, led by the incoming Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lt. General Olufemi Oluyede, arrived at the State House Forecourt at approximately 3:55 p.m. Oluyede, who previously served as Chief of Army Staff, was accompanied by Major General W. Shaibu (Chief of Army Staff-designate), Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke (Chief of Air Staff-designate), and Rear Admiral I. Abbas (Chief of Naval Staff-designate).  

While the details of the closed-door meeting remain undisclosed, sources within the Presidency revealed that the session served as a strategic briefing between the Commander-in-Chief and the incoming military leadership. The discussions were believed to center on national security priorities, operational directives, and expectations for the new appointees.  

A senior government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the swearing-in and ceremonial decoration of the service chiefs will follow their confirmation by the Senate, as mandated by constitutional provisions. Upon confirmation, Lt. General Oluyede is expected to be elevated to the rank of a four-star General, while the other service chiefs will be promoted to three-star Generals (or equivalent ranks in their respective branches).  

President Tinubu had, in a sweeping military reshuffle last Friday, announced the replacement of General Christopher Musa with Lt. General Oluyede as CDS. Other key appointments included Major General Shaibu as Army Chief, Air Vice Marshal Aneke as Air Force Chief, and Rear Admiral Abbas as Naval Chief. Notably, Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye retained his position as Chief of Defence Intelligence.  

The Presidency, in its initial statement, charged the new appointees to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, vigilance, and inter-service collaboration to bolster national security.  

Meanwhile, the Senate is set to commence screening of the nominees this week, with strong indications that their confirmation may be expedited given the urgency of security challenges facing the nation.  

As Nigeria navigates complex security threats, today’s meeting underscores President Tinubu’s commitment to restructuring the nation’s defense architecture and reinforcing the Armed Forces’ operational readiness.