Less than a month after taking office, President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria made significant changes to the defense forces, removing the security chiefs and the police commissioner.
The secretary to the government of the federation announced on Monday that Tinubu, who was sworn into office on May 29, has named new commanders of the defense forces, army, navy, and air force with immediate effect.
“The immediate retirement of all Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, Advisers, Comptroller-General of Customs from Service as well as their replacements with immediate effect”, according to Willie Bassey, a spokesman for the secretary to the Nigerian government.
According to Bassey’s statement, “It is to be noted that the appointed Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police and the Comptroller General of Customs are to act in their positions, pending their confirmation in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The president of Nigeria has pledged to reform the security system and has made security one of his top priorities. This includes hiring more police and soldiers and improving their pay and equipment.
“We shall invest more in our security personnel, and this means more than an increase in number,” Tinubu declared on his first day in office. “We’ll offer better instruction, gear, compensation, and firepower”, he added.
As Tinubu did on Monday, it is not uncommon for a new Nigerian president to send security chiefs into early retirement after taking office.
Major General Christopher Musa succeeds Lucky Irabor as the new Chief of Defence Staff. Up until last year, Major General Musa had been in charge of the army’s battle against armed uprisings.
In addition, Tinubu appointed new heads of the Nigeria Customs Service and new commanders for the army, navy, and air force, all of which took effect immediately.
Tinubu has also dissolved all of the government agencies’ boards of directors. New boards are anticipated to be established and approved by the legislature in the upcoming weeks.
Source-Aljazeera
