UPDATED: Senate Confirms Service Chiefs

The Senate on Thursday confirmed the new service chiefs after grilling them for more than two-hour.

Those confirmed are Christopher Musa, a major general, as the new chief of defence staff (CDS) and Taoreed Lagbaja, a major general, as chief of army staff.

Also confirmed are: Emmanuel Ogalla, a rear admiral, as chief of naval staff and Hassan Abubakar, an Air vice marshal, as the chief of air staff.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the Red Chamber, in the executive session, considered the request of President Bola Tinubu for the confirmation of the nominees for appointment as service chiefs.

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He said the service chiefs responded to questions from senators on defense matters and national security.

The service chiefs were given two minutes each to introduce themselves before the screening exercise went into closed session because of security reason.

The Senate had earlier suspended relevant rules to allow the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate) Senator, Abdullah Gumel, to bring them into the chamber.

In a letter read during plenary last week Tuesday by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Tinubu had asked the Red Chamber to confirm the appointments of the service chiefs.

Tinubu said the confirmation request was in line with the Act establishing the Armed Forces.