•Ex-military leaders hand over to successors
THE new Service chiefs resumed duties yesterday, vowing to crush insurgency that has ravaged the Northeast in the last five years.
Maj.-Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin took over from Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas took the baton from Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin as Chief of Naval Staff.
Air Vice Marshal Adesola Amosu also handed over to Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar as chief of Air staff.
Former Cchief of Army saff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah had already handed over to Major Gen. Yakubu Buratai on Thursday.
The CDS promised to fashion a new strategic direction for the prosecution of the campaign against insurgency.
He said efforts would also be made to strengthen operational arrangements to sustain achievements in the counter-insurgency operations.
The CDS promised to intensify intelligence, logistic communication and equipment provision with every support given by the administration.
Maj.-Gen. Olonisakin said: “A lot has been done in the on-going counter-insurgency operation in the Northeast. In furtherance of the successes so far achieved, we will look at ways to strengthen the existing arrangement as well as provide new strategic direction.
“We will set specific timelines and milestones to be achieved; look at gaps in the on-going efforts and do all that are needful, with the support of government, to address these gaps, especially in the areas of actionable intelligence, logistics, communication and other critical equipment.”
He urged the Armed Forces to redouble efforts in the counter-insurgency campaign to justify the confidence reposed in them by President Muhammadu Buhari and the people.
The CDS called for improved collaboration among other security agencies, with emphasis on intelligence gathering in all military and security operations.
He admonished officers and men on the need to tackle oil theft, illegal bunkering, armed banditry and other criminal activities.
The Chief of Air Staff appealed to the National Assembly for support to enable the Air Force deliver on its mandate.
On his part, the new chief of Naval saff promised to provide responsive and motivational leadership that would institute appropriate reward system.
“My vision is to develop a credible naval power in fulfillment of the Nigerian Navy’s constitutional roles towards enhancing national prosperity and security,” Admiral Ibas said.
He assured Buhari and the people that he would do everything in his power to justify the confidence reposed in him.
The Naval chief urged Nigerians to continue to support the Navy in contributing meaningfully to enhance maritime security and national development.
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