No Plans To Replace Service Chiefs– Presidency

Posted on December 12, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Presidency on Monday denied report in the media of plans by President Muhammadu Buhari to replace the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, as Service Chiefs.

It said Olonisakin, who is due to retire from the Army next week, is yet to be replaced.

A statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina, reads: “It is necessary to respond to a fictive story published in today’s edition of New Telegraph Newspaper, to the effect that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the replacement of Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, as Service Chiefs.

“The newspaper, rather than rush to print an unsubstantiated story, would have done better to confirm the information at its disposal, from many available military and government information channels.

“It then would have avoided the self-inflicted wound of publishing a one-legged story that is not completely true, and damaging its brand in the process.

“Gen. Olonisakin is due to retire from the Army next week, having satisfied the official number of years in service. He is yet to be replaced.

“But the Chief of Naval Staff has a short while more, and President Buhari could, therefore, not have approved his replacement yet.”

The statement noted that the administration has repeatedly pledged commitment to transparency and accountability, which resulted in the availability of information to the media.

No plans to replace service chiefs – Presidency

Buhari Meets Service Chiefs, N/Delta Group

Posted on July 1, 2016 by Staff Reporter

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday met with the service chiefs and heads of security agencies to review military operations in the Niger Delta region.
He also at a meeting with a delegation of the Niger Delta Dialogue and Contact Group led by King Alfred Diette-Spiff, the Amanyanabo of Twon Brass in Bayelsa State, said he wanted as much intelligence report as possible on the crisis in the Niger Delta.

The meeting with security chiefs which was held inside the president’s office lasted about four hours with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir David Lawal, Chief of Staff to the President Abba Kyari, National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno and Minister of Defence retired Brigadier-General Mansur Dan Ali in attendance.
The service chiefs present at the meeting include the Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Gabriel Abayomi Olonisakin, Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar and Chief of Naval Staff Ibok-Ete Ibas.
The meeting was also attended by the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura, the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke and the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, none of whom spoke to newsmen after the meeting. But it was gathered that the meeting also reviewed counter-terrorism operations in the Northeast.
Receiving the Niger Delta group, Buhari said: “I want to get as much intelligence as possible on the situation in the Niger Delta. I have encouraged law enforcement agencies to contact leaders like you in order to have enough information to deal with the issues once and for all”.
The president sympathised with investors who, he said, borrowed money to invest in the region but had not recouped their investments due to insecurity.
He reiterated his appeal to those perpetrating violence in the region to embrace peace and give government a chance.
Assuring that his administration would rebuild Nigeria, including the Niger Delta region, the president solicited patience and understanding from the citizenry.
Earlier, King Alfred Diette-Spiff had said his group was made of peace builders dedicated to peace and stability in the region.

Credit: dailytrust

Chibok Girls: Service Chiefs Absent At Senate Meeting

Posted on April 21, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The National Security Adviser (NSA) and other Service Chiefs invited to brief the Senate on their efforts to rescue the abducted Chibok girls failed to honour the invitation on Wednesday.

Only the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Solomon Arase and the Director-General of the Department of State Security (DSS), Mr. Lawal Daura, attended the briefing.

No explanation was given for the absence of the Service Chiefs at the end of the session.

Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, presided over the session.

The DG, DSS and the IGP were said to have briefed the lawmakers on efforts being made to rescue the abducted Chibok girls who had been in captivity for over two years.

After the closed session, Ekweremadu announced: “The Senate was briefed by the Director-General, State Security Service and the Inspector General of Police on the abduction of the Chibok school girls and efforts to rescue them in the last two years.

“We urged them to continue and should leave no stone unturned to achieve the rescue of the Chibok girls.

“Thereafter they answered questions bothering on topical national security issues from very distinguished senators.”

The Senate had last Thursday invited the Service Chiefs to brief it on efforts at rescuing the Chibok girls.

This followed a motion by Senator Dino Melaye on the issue.

Credit: Nation

Why Military Is Yet To Defeat Boko Haram- Service Chiefs

Posted on February 5, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Against the backdrop of recent deadly attacks carried out in some towns in Borno State by Boko Haram, the nation’s Service Chiefs have opened up to the leadership of the Senate why they have been unable to successfully prosecute the insurgency war.

They complained of lack of funds to buy equipment and also, lamented the failure of the Federal Government to release funds appropriated for the prosecution of war in the 2015 budget.

These factors were revealed to the Senate leadership and disclosed by the office of Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki in a statement yesterday. The closed-door meeting between the service chiefs and top senators, which lasted for about two hours on Wednesday was presided over by the Senate President.

Saraki said several issues tailored at further empowering the security agencies to win the war against Boko Haram were discussed in a frank and open exchange between the two sides.

The military chiefs, led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, reportedly briefed the lawmakers on the various challenges faced by the military, particularly the state of their equipment which they said required serious upgrading and restocking.

“They also complained that their vote in the 2015 supplementary budget has not been released thereby hampering their ability to fund their operations. Other issues that came up for discussion were the need to continuously increase the personnel in the three branches of the military and the hindrance posed by the procurement process which they said is very slow,” Saraki stated in the statement.

“The military chiefs also canvassed the need for the review of some laws governing their operations so as to make them able to respond to emergency situations they now confront in the North-east zone as well as conform with global best practices,” he further noted.

Credit: Sun

Senate Meets Service Chiefs Behind Closed Doors

Posted on February 4, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Senate on Wednesday, held a meeting with the Service Chiefs behind closed doors.

The meeting which lasted several hours was presided over by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

Details of the closed door parley were not made known to journalists but our correspondent learnt that it bothers on the prevailing security issues in the country especially in the North East.

The meeting had in attendance, principal officers of the Senate and Chairmen of security related Committees.

Neither the senate side nor the military team granted interview after the meeting but when pressured, Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, said issues discussed would not be revealed to the public.

He said, they discussed National Security issues and as such was for the sole consumption of those who were in attendance.

Ndume said it was the first time the upper chamber was being fully briefed on matters of security.

He said, “We have been briefed properly but these are security issues we cannot really disclose any of it.

“Unlike before, the Senate was not abreast or updated on the efforts they are making: now we have very full, honest, open and transparent discussion on the activities.

“This is a security meeting that we just had, it will be wrong for me to disclose the details.

“We are satisfied because we have never had this kind of briefing before, we are part of it now, we know what is the problem, we know what are the challenges.”

The Service Chiefs present were Chief of Defence Staff Maj. Gen. Abayomi Olonishakin; Chief of Army Staff Maj. Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff Rear Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas; and Chief of Air Staff, AVM. Sadique Abubakar.

Credit: Punch