By Ayomide Otitoju
President Bola Tinubu on Monday received a detailed security briefing from the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, focusing on the situation in the North-East region. The meeting marked the first official engagement between the President and Shaibu since his appointment and decoration as COAS.
Speaking briefly after the session, Shaibu said he had conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the theatre of operations to evaluate progress in the fight against terrorism. He added that the visit also provided insight into the overall security situation across Nigeria.
“I just came to brief him on the outcome of my visit to the northeast region and look at other security situations across the country, which is satisfactory within the period,” Shaibu said. When asked what Nigerians could expect following his visit, he replied: “Improved security across the country.”
Shaibu is one of several new service chiefs appointed by President Tinubu. Others include General Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff, and Air Marshal Kelvin Aneke as Chief of Air Staff.
During their recent decoration ceremony, Tinubu charged the service chiefs to execute their duties with patriotic zeal, noting that Nigerians “are in a hurry to celebrate peace and expect results, not excuses.” He urged them to work collaboratively, leverage technology, and eliminate security threats decisively.
“Of grave concern to our administration is the recent emergence of new armed groups in the North-Central, North-West, and parts of the South. We must not allow these new threats to fester,” the President said at the ceremony.
