The Nation Newspaper

Tag: service chiefs

  • Insurgency: Senate summons Service Chiefs

    Insurgency: Senate summons Service Chiefs

    The Senate on Wednesday summoned the Service Chiefs over the increasing activities of insurgents, especially in the northeastern part of the country.

    The Service Chiefs would specifically brief the lawmakers on the state of affairs in the Northeast and the effectiveness of the state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.

    A Senator, who disclosed this on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press, said the security chiefs were also expected to give account of security expenditure deployed in the fight against Boko Haram.

    Those invited to Thursday’s meeting  are – the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, Chief of Army Staff,  Major General Kenneth Minimah, Chief of Naval Staff,  Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin , Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Adesola Amosu , the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, and the Director, State Security Services, Mr. Ekpeyong Nsah.

    Senate President, David Mark, had at the start of plenary on Wednesday charged the military to declare total war on Boko Haram.

    Mark spoke against the backdrop of the attack at the Government Science Secondary School, Potiskum, Yobe State.

    He noted that since it was obvious that Boko Haram has ignored all entreaties for dialogue, the military should deploy all arsenals available to it to flush out the insurgents from the country.

    He described the wanton killing of innocent students as most crime against the country and insisted that Nigerians must unite to defeat terror in all its ramifications.

     

  • Insecurity: Jonathan meets Service Chiefs

    Insecurity: Jonathan meets Service Chiefs

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday met behind closed-doors with security Chiefs and heads of security agencies in the country at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Details of the meeting were not known as there was no official statement as at press time. The security chiefs also did not speak with journalists at the end of the meeting.

    Apart from reviewing the security situation in the country, discussions at the meeting were also not unconnected with ongoing efforts to rescue the over 200 secondary schoolgirls abducted in Chibok, Borno State, over a month ago.

    The meeting came against the back drop of Sunday’s car bomb explosion in Sabon Gari, Kano State, which killed 10 people. Another blast was foiled at Tafawa Balewa Street in the state on Monday morning.

    It was also the first security meeting after last Saturday’s Regional Security meeting on Boko Haram hosted by French President, Francois Hollande at Elysee Palace, Paris, France.

     

  • Jonathan to Service Chiefs: Don’t disappoint Nigerians

    Jonathan to Service Chiefs: Don’t disappoint Nigerians

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday warned the new service chiefs to do all within their power to end insurgency in the country, saying they should not fail Nigerians.

    Boko Haram and other violent groups have continued to operate in the north by killing and maiming hundreds of Nigerians in the last few days.

    Decorating the new service chiefs with their new ranks before the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the State House, Abuja, Jonathan insisted that the security agencies cannot go to sleep until Nigerians in Borno State and other parts of the north can sleep.

    The war against terror in the country, he said, must be won.

    He said, “Whenever I am decorating military officers, I commend their wives because it is not easy to be barrack based and for you to rise to this height. But the service chiefs, I don’t know whether I will congratulate you or I will sympathise with you because of the circumstances of the moment.

    “That reminds me, when I was in secondary school, I read one article written by late Dr. Tai Solarin and there is one clause he said ‘I wish you what I wish myself every year. May you have enough time this year’. So I think I will wish you what I wish myself every year and may we have enough time this period, because none of us will sleep till the Nigerians in Borno State can sleep.

    “That is why I say today is not a moment for major statements. We will be having very fine talks from time to time, but definitely Nigerians will tell you what they expect from us. We must not fail this country and I believe this team will work together to be assisted by other intelligence services because the war against terror must be won in this country.

    “I congratulate you all and your wives. I have worked with some of you in one way or the other and I am convinced that we selected the right team to salvage this country at this time. You must not disappoint Nigerians.”

    Speaking on behalf of the new service chiefs, whose appointments were confirmed by the National Assembly, the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Alex Badeh, assured that they will not disappoint Nigerians.

    He pledged their unalloyed loyalty to Nigeria, stressing that the security challenges in the northeast are not insurmountable.

     

  • Jonathan, service chiefs meet over insecurity

    Jonathan, service chiefs meet over insecurity

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday met with service chiefs behind closed door for several hours at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The discussions at the meeting, which was the first since the appointment of new service chiefs last month, was not unconnected with the rising onslaught of the Boko Haram sect and other insurgents in the northeast which have claimed many lives in the past few days.

    No statement was issued at the end of the meeting, while the service chiefs declined comment on the issues discussed at the parley.

    Those at the meeting are – the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshall Alex Badeh, Chief of Army Staff, Major General Kenneth Minimah, Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin and Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Adesola Amosu.

    Also at the meeting are the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, Inspector General of Police, Abubakar Mohammed and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim.

    When approached by journalists for comment on the meeting, the CDS declined, saying, “I will only speak if you will allow me speak in my dialect.”

     

     

  • Senate confirms new Service Chiefs

    The Senate on Thursday confirmed four Service Chiefs nominated by President Goodluck Jonathan.
    This followed the consideration of the report of the Senate Joint Committee on Defence/Army, Navy and Air Force that screened the nominees.
    The committee gave the nominees clean bill of health, prompting smooth confirmation by the upper chamber.
    The Chairman of the Committee, Senator George Sekibo, while presenting the report said, “Having assessed the four nominees thoroughly and found them fit for the leadership of their respective services, the Joint Committee wishes to recommend that the Senate do confirm and approve their appointment and decoration by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as Service Chiefs.”
    Those confirmed are – the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshall Alex Badeh; Chief of Army Staff, Major General Kenneth Minimah; Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin and Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Adesola Amosu.
    Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, urged the service chiefs to bring their wealth of experience to bear in the discharge of their functions.
    He urged them to live up to the expectation of Nigerians.

  • Senate to Service Chiefs: Stop insurgency, kidnapping, oil theft

    The Senate on Monday urged the newly appointed Service Chiefs to stop the escalating insurgency, kidnapping, oil theft and pipelines vandalization in the country.
    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence and Army, Senator George Sekibo, spoke shortly before the Senate Joint Committee on Defence and Army, Navy and Air Force went into a closed-door session for the screening of the newly appointed Service Chiefs in Abuja.
    Sekibo representing Rivers East Senatorial District warned that the menace of lawlessness and impunity across the country could lead to the disintegration of the country if not nipped in the bud.
    He noted that the screening of the nominees was not about their academic qualification but their “competence in strategic military operations.”
    Sekibo said, “It is pertinent to mention that our country is going through some major security challenges, including among others the North east insurgency, the oil theft and pipeline vandalization in the South- South and kidnapping in the South East and other parts of our country.
    “If the required attention is not given to these challenges, they are capable of disintegrating our country or putting our nation’s unity in question.
    “It is the wish of the Senate and indeed the entire nation that no part of this country would be allowed to exist in lawlessness and every part of the country must be fully protected, as that is one of the primary objectives of a good government.
    “The oil theft and vandalization of pipelines in the South-South region is a major economic breach with resultant reductions in national earnings from the oil and gas sector and this must be stopped.”

  • Service Chiefs’ confirmation scale first hurdle amid protest

    The confirmation of four Service Chiefs nominated by President Goodluck Jonathan almost ran into a hitch on Thursday following observation of alleged procedural error in the nomination.

    Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, had prayed the Senate to consider the request of Mr. President for the confirmation of nominees for appointment as Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs for the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in accordance with Section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act, cap. A.20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    Ndoma-Egba ,who read from the Senate Order Paper listed Air Marshall Alex Badeh (Chief of Defence Staff), Major General Kenneth Minimah (Chief of Army Staff), Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin (Chief of Naval Staff) and Air Vice Marshall Adesola Amosu (Chief of Air Staff) as those Jonathan requested the Senate to confirm for their various positions.

    The Senate Leader had hardly sat down when Senator Kabiru Gaya (Kano South) raised a point of Order.

    Gaya said that President Jonathan did not follow due process in the nomination of the Service Chiefs.

    He noted that there was a subsisting judicial pronouncement which mandated Mr. President to consult the Senate before Service Chiefs could be nominated.

    He said that it was obvious that “Mr. President did not consult the Senate before the new crops of Service Chiefs were nominated.”

    The lawmaker added that he was aware that the new Service Chiefs have already assumed duty without any input by the Senate.

    Gaya wondered what would happen if any of the nominated Service Chiefs fail Senate screening.

    The Kano State lawmaker insisted that “this matter is in court and there is a judgment on this matter.”

    Before other Senators could contribute, Senate President, David Mark, said that President Jonathan had merely announced the names of nominated Service Chiefs.

    Mark said that the nominees have neither been inaugurated nor decorated by Mr. President.

    He added that the nominee Service Chiefs could only be decorated when they were screened and confirmed by the National Assembly.

     

  • Jonathan sacks Ihejirika, other service chiefs

    Jonathan sacks Ihejirika, other service chiefs

    … Alex Badeh is new CDS

    President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on Thursday approved sweeping changes in the nation’s military high command.

    The erstwhile Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh takes over from Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim as Chief of Defence Staff.

    Major-General Kenneth Minimah replaces Lt.-General Azubike Ihejirika as Chief of Army Staff.

    Rear Admiral Usman O. Jibrin is the new Chief of Naval Staff.  He takes over from Vice Admiral Dele Joseph Ezeoba.

    Also, Air Vice Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu takes the baton from Air Marshal Badeh as Chief of Air Staff.

    With this development, all the former service chiefs except the new CDS have been retired from the military.

    A statement issued by the President’s media aide, Dr. Reuben Abati, said all the changes are with immediate effect.

    It reads, “The new Chief CDS, Air Marshal Badeh was born on January 10, 1957 and joined the Air Force as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 21 Regular Course while the new COAS, Major-General Minimah was born on July 27, 1959 and joined the Army as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 25 Regular Course. Until his new appointment, Major-General Minimah was the Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps, Jaji.

    “The new CNS, Rear Admiral Jibrin was born on September 16, 1959 and joined the Navy as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 24 Regular Course. Until his appointment as CNS, he was Director of Training at Defence Headquarters.

    The new Chief of Air Staff and immediate past Commander of the Presidential Air Fleet, Air Vice Marshal Amosu was born on August 1, 1958 and joined the Air Force as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 25 Regular Course. Until his new appointment, Air Vice Marshal Amosu was the Air Officer Commanding, Tactical Air Command, Makurdi.

    “President Jonathan has briefed the leadership of the National Assembly on the appointment of the new service chiefs and will, in keeping with the provisions of the law, request the National Assembly to formally confirm the appointments when it reconvenes.”

     

     

     

     

  • Emergency rule: Anger at Senate over Service Chiefs’ absence at briefing

    The failure of Service Chiefs to brief the Senate on the performance of the emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe State angered Senators on Thursday.

    The upper chamber had invited the Service Chiefs to brief it on the performance of ongoing emergency rule in the three northeastern states.

    The Senate also wanted a comprehensive briefing on Monday’s ferocious attack in parts of Borno State by suspected members of the Boko Haram sect.

    The Senate was forced to end its closed door meeting arranged to receive the security chiefs when it discovered that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba and Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, did not turn up for the scheduled briefing.

    The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Vice Marshal Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Alex Badeh, Director General of the State Security Service, Ita Ekpeyong and representative of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister for Special Duties, Kabiru Turaki attended the aborted briefing.

    Senate President, David Mark, announced that the secret meeting was called off because of the absence of some of the security chiefs.

    A source at the closed door meeting told our correspondents that the lawmakers were angered when it was learnt that the absence of the security chiefs was due to their meeting with some American security officials.

    The source noted that most of the Senators felt “belittled” by the action of the security chiefs.

    He said, “I don’t know of any American army officer or security agency that will come to tell the American Senate that their members are not around for a scheduled meeting because they were having meeting with American security officials.

    “We did not walk them out but we told them that we cannot take them until we see all their heads. It does not matter what you get from America but that is not enough reason for them not to come.

    ”It still just tells us that yet they still don’t see the legislature as actually overseers. They just see us as another nuisance body created by the Constitution.

    “But maybe by the time they come back next time they would have now learnt their lessons. Of course, we have a military man who is senior to all of them.”

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe, who later briefed reporters on the development, said the planned briefing by the Service Chiefs and the heads of the other security agencies including the Inspector General of Police could not hold.

     

  • Boko Haram: Jonathan meets service chiefs

    Boko Haram: Jonathan meets service chiefs

    Following terrorists’ attacks at the Maiduguri International Airport and the Composite Group Air force Base in Borno State, President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday held emergency security meeting with security chiefs at the Presidential Villa.

    Many people were killed in the early Monday morning attack.

    The security chiefs who were at the closed-door meeting are – the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Azubike Ihejirika and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh.

    No official press statement was issued for the meeting which ended at about 3.40pm.

    The Chief of Defence Staff, who initially declined to comment on discussions at the meeting later, said that the situation was being managed.