President Muhammadu Buhari has told the new service chiefs to know that Nigerians are trusting them to rapidly provide a relief to the current insecurity in the country.
The President spoke shortly after decorating them with their new ranks at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday, saying that they only have few weeks to achieve that.
“My charge to the new Service Chiefs. Congratulations again to them, and I wish them the very best.
“I have charged the new Service Chiefs to keep in mind that the nation is looking to them for rapid relief. They must identify competent officers irrespective of seniority and paper qualifications, and work with them to secure this country. As C-in-C I am backing them 100 per cent.
“As I assured at our last security meeting, I have taken responsibility as C-in-C for them to go out into the fields and every part of the country, to ensure peace and security. I have accepted responsibility for all actions taken in fulfilment of the mandate to secure Nigeria.
“You have got a few weeks to do that because, by the rainy season, we expect people to develop confidence and go back to the land so that we don’t get into trouble by being away from the field and therefore unable to produce enough food for the nation.”
The new service chiefs decorated are the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Attahiru; Chief of Naval Staff; Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amoo.
President at the decoration ceremony include Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; Minister of Defence, Major-General Bashir Magashi (retd.); and Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari.