The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, has assured Nigerians that the armed forces will intensify efforts to end terrorism and all forms of criminality in the country, reaffirming the military’s loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and commitment to national security.
Speaking after his official decoration by the President at the State House, Abuja, on Thursday, General Oluyede said the military will do everything possible to make Nigeria safer and restore peace to affected regions.
He emphasized that security is a collective responsibility that requires the support of all Nigerians, regardless of ethnicity or background.
“I can promise Nigerians that we’re going to do our very best to make the country safer,” Oluyede said.
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“Mr. President charged us to ensure that we make Nigeria better secured, and that’s exactly what we’re committed to achieving. Terrorism has been with us since 2009, and it’s important that we bring it to an end. We will do our utmost best with the support of the President, the government, and the good people of Nigeria.”
The CDS expressed deep appreciation for the confidence reposed in the new service chiefs by the Commander-in-Chief, noting that the President’s charge was clear and uncompromising to deliver security results that would allow socio-economic activities to thrive.
According to him, the fight against insecurity cannot be won by the military alone. He appealed to citizens across all regions to continue supporting the armed forces through intelligence sharing, public cooperation, and trust in ongoing operations.
“Security should be everybody’s business,” he said. “Without the support of Nigerians, we can hardly achieve much. So I want to urge Nigerians of all ethnicities to please support us, and at the end of the day, I believe we will make Nigeria safer.”
General Oluyede also used the occasion to thank Nigerians for their continuous encouragement and expressed optimism that, with sustained collaboration between the military, government, and the people, peace will be fully restored to troubled areas.
“I want to thank all Nigerians for the support they give to the armed forces, and I expect that they give us even more so that we can make Nigeria safer,” he added.
He assured President Tinubu of the unwavering loyalty of the Nigerian Armed Forces, pledging that the service chiefs would continue to uphold democratic principles and align their operations with the administration’s broader goals for national stability and development.
“We pledge our loyalty to Mr. President, and we assure you that we will continue to support the flourishing democracy and all your aspirations to make Nigeria better,” he said.
Oluyede emphasized that the military’s renewed strategy under the current administration would focus on intelligence-led operations, coordination among security agencies, and enhanced deployment of technology in the field. He said the goal is not only to suppress violent threats but to completely eliminate the roots of terrorism, banditry, and other organized crimes across the country.
The CDS further noted that the armed forces have drawn key lessons from past operations and are restructuring their tactics to adapt to emerging threats, particularly in the North-Central and North-West regions where new armed groups have recently surfaced. He promised decisive actions against these groups and stronger cooperation with local communities to improve early warning and response mechanisms.
“The President has given us a clear directive to be proactive and result-oriented,” Oluyede said. “We are not just going to fight; we are going to win. We are determined to ensure that every Nigerian can live and work in safety anywhere in the country.”
Reaffirming his confidence in the capability and morale of the troops, the CDS pledged that under his leadership, the armed forces will remain professional, disciplined, and accountable to the Nigerian people. He also praised officers and men who continue to serve in challenging environments, describing them as heroes whose sacrifices will not be in vain.
As the ceremony concluded, Oluyede reiterated his central message of unity, loyalty, and shared responsibility in securing the nation. “We assure Nigerians that we will rid the country of all forms of criminality and make it safer so that socio-economic activities can thrive. That’s our promise today,” he said.
The event marked the beginning of what many observers see as a new phase in Nigeria’s national security strategy one anchored on collaboration, technology, and leadership accountability.