By Muhammad Mamman
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to formally decorate Nigeria’s newly confirmed Service Chiefs with their official ranks at a ceremony scheduled to take place at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The event marks the final step in confirming their appointments, following the approval granted by the National Assembly earlier this year.
Those to be decorated include General Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff; Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, Chief of Army Staff; Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, Chief of Naval Staff; and Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff. Each officer has already assumed command of their respective branches but will now receive the full insignia of office from the Commander-in-Chief himself.
The investiture comes amid renewed focus on Nigeria’s security challenges, with President Tinubu charging the new military hierarchy to demonstrate “absolute loyalty, professionalism, and innovation” in combating insurgency, banditry, and other forms of insecurity.
Government insiders suggest the ceremony is not merely symbolic. It represents Tinubu’s effort to consolidate his national security team and signal stability within the armed forces following recent reports of internal disquiet and alleged coup rumours.
Analysts note that the move reinforces Tinubu’s message of “discipline and reform” across Nigeria’s defence sector, as his administration seeks to restore confidence in military leadership and ensure closer coordination between the armed forces and civilian authorities.
