New CDS, COAS resume office, promise displined armed forces, safety for Nigerians

The newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Christopher Musa and the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja resumed office on Friday after their appointments by President Bola Tinubu.

Maj. Gen. Musa officially took over the mantle of leadership from his predecessor, General Lucky Irabor, at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, while Lagabaja took the baton from the 22nd Chief, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya who had been in command since May 2021.

Musa in his inaugural speech, said that the Nigerian military will come out in full force to crush any of the country’s adversaries, while safeguarding the safety and security of the citizenry.

General Musa also assured Nigerians to feel safe wherever they are, as the military is up and doing and highly professional to safeguard the lives and property of every Nigerian.

He said: “As the CDS, I promise Nigerians that we will continue to improve on our mandate for sustaining peace and tranquility in the country. We assure every Nigerian to feel safe, that the Armed Forces of Nigeria are up and doing, highly professional and are there for them. Nobody should doubt our determination to bring peace to Nigeria.

“Anybody, especially insurgents, terrorists, bandits and anyone who thinks otherwise should be ready to face the music. The Nigerian Armed Forces will come out in full force while safeguarding the safety and security of citizenry.”

He promised to provide the right leadership for the military to perform its constitutional mandate, while ensuring improved welfare for its personnel.

He commended the former CDS and service chiefs for the achievements recorded in the fight against terrorism, banditry and other criminalities and for also improving the level of discipline in the military. 

“The level of discipline in the armed forces has improved drastically. I commend the former CDS and service chiefs for that.

“Also they have also done their best on the issue of welfare, but as you know it can never be hundred percent. We will continue from where they stopped.

“We will ensure that our troops, whenever they are, will never be left alone. We will make sure that we give them what they need. The issue of their administration is paramount; because a soldier that is well fed and taken care of will give his best. So they should not doubt us. We shouldn’t have any doubt. We are here, ready and willing to do that,” he said.

Earlier, the outgoing CDS, General Irabor, described his successor as “professional and tested officer by all standards.”

He said that during the two meetings he had with President Tinubu, the president emphasized on raising the professional standard of the Nigerian military.

He therefore urged the new CDS to follow up to ensure that such a dream of the President is achieved.

He urged all officers and soldiers of the Nigerian military to give the new CDS the maximum operation and support for him to succeed in his new task.

He said: “My joy is that we are leaving behind a military with high professional standards, and I am also happy that all the officers we are living behind have performed creditably well. You must doubt your efforts to maintain that standard.

“Even after retirement we remain committed to the Nigerian cause. Democracy is the best form of government in our political climate, and as members of the Nigerian Armed Forces we must continue to give our support. We must continue to be loyal to the country, the constitution, and the President Commander-in-Chief. I am confident that members of the Armed Forces will maintain this cause.”     

In the same vein, the COAS assured that  hard work shall be dully rewarded while appropriate measures  would be taken to bring back in line anyone that errs.

He said that God had made it his turn to receive the mantle of leadership of the Nigerian army, an aspiration of every combatant army officer.

The new army chief said the Nigerian army had in the past 25 months, witnessed milestone transformation under his predecessor, Gen. Yahaya

He said these included unprecedented procurement of equipment and prudent management of human and material resources, which Nigeria had begun to reap the dividends.

Lagbaja thanked the former COAS for mentorship and empowering his military career.

According to him, following the leadership style of Gen. Faruk Yahaya, repentant terrorists have been surrendering in droves like never before.

“Currently we are witnessing more than ever before massive surrender by repentant insurgents in the North East in a manner that beats the expectation of any observer locally and internationally.

“There is no doubt that the experience and exposure garnered under you will help in the discharge of my duties as the chief of army staff, as you transit into retirement on this glorious day.

“I wish to assure you that I shall do everything within my power to improve on your legacy of a proficient, effective and admirable Nigerian Army,” he said.

Lagbaja also promised to improve on the legacies of his predecessors of a proficient and professional army, adding that hard work would be rewarded under his watch.

“I promise that I shall discharge my responsibilities as COAS with fairness; merit and hard work shall be dully rewarded while appropriate measures taken to bring back in line anyone that errs,” he added.

Earlier, the former chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Yahaya said he was leaving the Nigerian Army better than he met it, adding that the army made remarkable successes in the fight against insecurity.

He said that the adversaries are currently in disarray across all theatres of operations, and charged officers and men to maintain the tempo.