The Nigerian Army today witnessed a seamless transition of leadership as Major General Waidi Shaibu formally assumed duty as the 25th Chief of Army Staff (COAS), following a colourful handing and taking over ceremony between the outgoing COAS, now Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, and Major General Shaibu, at the Army Headquarters, Abuja.

 

In his inaugural address, the new COAS, Major General Waidi Shaibu, commended Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede for his exemplary leadership, mentorship, and unwavering commitment to the Nigerian Army. He lauded the outgoing Chief’s numerous achievements, particularly in equipment procurement, infrastructural development, and the “Soldier First” initiative, which prioritized troop welfare and operational readiness.

 

Major General Shaibu pledged to consolidate and build on the remarkable legacies of his predecessor, while enhancing synergy among security agencies and other government institutions to strengthen national security. He assured that he would carefully review the current security landscape and respond proactively to emerging threats, emphasizing his determination to boost operational efficiency and troop morale.

 

“I salute the courage, passion, resilience, and discipline of our troops in the field. Their sacrifices remain the cornerstone of our collective success,” the new Army Chief stated.

 

The new COAS expressed deep appreciation to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for finding him worthy of the appointment. He thereafter led senior officers of the Nigerian Army in observing a minute silence in honour of fallen heroes who paid the supreme price in the line of duty.

 

In his valedictory address, the outgoing COAS and newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, expressed profound gratitude to President Tinubu for his visionary leadership and for the opportunity to serve as COAS and now as CDS. He praised officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their dedication, discipline, and selfless service, urging them to extend the same loyalty and professionalism to the new Army Chief.

 

“The mission remains the same — to ensure the security of lives and defend the territorial integrity of our nation,” he affirmed.

 

Earlier, the immediate past Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Major General Abdulsalami Ibrahim, extolled the exemplary leadership and transformative impact of the outgoing COAS, describing him as “a selfless and visionary leader whose contributions to the Nigerian Army will be remembered by posterity.”

 

The ceremony featured the signing of handing and taking over notes, decoration of the new Chief with the Army Headquarters insignia, inspection of the Quarter Guard, and group photographs with principal staff officers and field commanders.