N’East youths urge probe as Tinubu meets new service chiefs

Northeast Youths Demand Probe Amid Tinubu’s Strategic Military Reshuffle

In a significant development within Nigeria’s national security landscape, President Bola Tinubu convened a closed-door meeting with the newly appointed service chiefs at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

This engagement, held three days after their formal appointment, marked the President’s first official interaction with the new military leadership.

The meeting was part of a broader strategic realignment aimed at enhancing professionalism, boosting troop morale, and improving inter-agency coordination across Nigeria’s security apparatus.

Present at the meeting were General Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Defence Staff; Major General Waheedi Shaibu, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, Chief of Naval Staff; Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke, Chief of Air Staff; and Major General Emmanuel Undiendeye, who retained his role as Chief of Defence Intelligence.

Although the specific directives issued by President Tinubu during the meeting were not publicly disclosed, sources within Aso Villa indicated that discussions centered on counter-terrorism priorities and the administration’s commitment to sustaining peace and stability nationwide.

The appointments have drawn commendation from various quarters, including Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, who described the reshuffle as a pivotal move toward strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.

Through his Chief Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, Soludo expressed confidence in the expertise and leadership of the newly appointed military officers. He emphasized the importance of stakeholder engagement and reaffirmed Anambra State’s commitment to supporting federal efforts to combat insecurity, particularly in the South-East region.

However, the reshuffle has also sparked calls for deeper reforms. The Coalition of Northeast Youth Group Leaders issued a seven-day ultimatum to President Tinubu, demanding a comprehensive review of the operations and leadership within the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

The group, led by Chairman Mohammed Adamu, praised the President’s decision to replace the service chiefs but argued that the reform would be incomplete without scrutinizing the NSA’s office. They cited inefficiencies and weak coordination as critical issues undermining national security efforts.

Adamu clarified that the coalition’s demand was not punitive but aimed at fostering transparency and accountability. He urged the President to audit recent decisions, operations, and coordination mechanisms under the NSA to ensure alignment with Tinubu’s renewed security vision.

The group warned that failure to act would result in peaceful demonstrations across the country, signaling a growing impatience among youth leaders for tangible reforms in Nigeria’s security governance.

This dual response, commendation from state leadership and pressure from civil society, underscores the complexity of Nigeria’s security challenges and the high expectations placed on the new military leadership.

As the country grapples with evolving threats, the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether Tinubu’s reshuffle translates into meaningful change or prompts further calls for systemic overhaul.