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ABUJA – The Acting Chief of Army Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has pledged to bring lasting peace to the country if confirmed as the substantive Chief of Army Staff.
He made this commitment on Wednesday while appearing before the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Defence and Army at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
The security challenges facing the nation today demand a united effort from every Nigerian, he emphasized.
He further called for the strengthening of bilateral and multilateral alliances with neighboring countries, alongside fostering deeper collaboration and joint operations among the armed forces and other security agencies.
“I am deeply honored this evening to be considered worthy of contributing to efforts aimed at fostering lasting peace across the length and breadth of our dear country, Nigeria. I look forward to working closely with the National Assembly and other stakeholders to achieve this noble objective.
“It is with humility that I appear before you today, seeking confirmation as the 24th Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army. This moment comes in the wake of an unfortunate tragedy that struck our Army and the nation as a whole with the untimely passing of the 23rd Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, after a brief illness.”
“Prior to his passing, I had been appointed by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to act on behalf of Lieutenant General Lagbaja during his expected recovery and anticipated return as Chief of Army Staff.
Following the untimely demise of Lieutenant General Lagbaja and his state funeral on 15 November 2024, Mr. President, in his wisdom, deemed me worthy to continue leading the Army’s outstanding efforts and subsequently secured my confirmation by the National Assembly.”
“I have proudly served this great nation as an officer in the Nigerian Army for over 30 years. My extensive experience across junior, middle, and senior cadres in the military has provided me with a comprehensive understanding of national security issues and has adequately prepared me for the task for which I am being screened today.
“Over the past five years, I have held senior operational and managerial roles within the Nigerian Army, contributing significantly to the overall administration and strategic direction of the service. This has afforded me valuable insights into its workings and prepared me to deliver on higher responsibilities.”
“Thus, I cannot completely distance myself from the successes or setbacks of our great army in the past couple of years. However, I see my nomination as the Chief of Army Staff as a privileged opportunity to be in the driver’s seat and bring about more positive changes to the Nigerian Army to enable it to fulfil its
constitutional responsibilities.
“Thus, if confirmed by this joint committee and given the common mandate to lead the Nigerian Army during this period, I promise to do my best to justify the confidence imposed in me by the appointing authority which is His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the confirming authority which is you members of the National Assembly and the generality of Nigerians.
“Let me underscore that the security environment will find ourselves as a nation requires a united effort on the part of every Nigerian. We also need strong bilateral and multilateral alliances between our country and our neighbors, as well as deep collaboration and joint efforts by the services and other security agencies.
“I a’m glad that this administration of His Excellency Bola Tinubu is on the right path to providing the enabling security environment for socioeconomic activities to thrive and restore a dear country to the path of pride and success,” he said.
He also said the Nigerian Army requires tactical aircrafts.
He said, “Aircrafts have different strata of employment. We have the tactical and the strategic strata of employment. Now the air support that we require as an army is the one at the tactical level, whereby the aircraft should be ready at the force during operations, the combat operations, at the tactical level, while the air force, being the main players in that sphere, are to give us strategic cover. So we require those aircraft and the air wing to support our operations,” he said.
He said there is robust cooperation between Armed Forces addinf that he intends to enhance this to ensure that Nigeria has better security and better socio economic development.
Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Hon Babajimi Benson, said Nigeria continues to grapple with an evolving spectrum of security challenges, ranging from insurgency and banditry to communal clashes and cyber threats.
He said for over a decade, the Armed Forces of Nigeria have been at the forefront of responding to these challenges, launching numerous operations and providing vital support to internal security efforts.
While commending the significant successes recorded in recent years, he pointed out that it is clear more work remains to be done to achieve sustainable peace across all regions of the country.
“The current dynamics of global security demand innovative and adaptive strategies. Threats are no longer confined to traditional battlefields; they now extend to cyberspace, economic domains and even the socio-political fabric of nations.
“In light of this, we must prioritize a forward-looking approach to national defence, ensuring that our military is well-equipped and adequately trained to address both conventional and emerging threats,” he said.
said their task was not only to assess the qualifications and vision of the nominee for Chief of Army Staff but also to establish a collaborative roadmap for tackling Nigeria’s security challenges.
He said as a partner in the pursuit of a secure and prosperous Nigeria, the House remains steadfast in its commitment to legislative oversight and support for the Armed Forces.
Benson said the House will continue to provide the necessary legal frameworks, advocate for adequate funding and monitor the implementation of appropriations to ensure accountability and transparency in military operations.
He stressed that the position carries immense responsibility, hence the Chief of Army Staff must lead with integrity, professionalism and a deep commitment to the protection of lives and property.
“If confirmed, you will be expected to foster synergy among security agencies, prioritize the welfare of troops and uphold the trust of Nigerians. This committee will ask questions that reflect the concerns of our constituents and the nation as a whole. We urge you to provide comprehensive and candid responses to guide our deliberations.
“In conclusion, I extend my best wishes to the nominee as you undergo this screening process. Your role is crucial to Nigeria’s pursuit of lasting peace and stability, and we are eager to collaborate with you in achieving this shared goal.”
Benson added that the results of the screening exercise would be thoroughly reviewed and presented to the House during Thursday’s plenary session.
