Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, on Friday, urged top officers and commanders in the Nigerian Armed Forces to maintain strong cooperation to address ongoing security challenges nationwide.
The call came as Maj.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede officially assumed duties as the Acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS) in a ceremony held in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, Gen. Musa emphasized that Nigeria is currently facing significant security hurdles that require unified efforts.
He noted that President Bola Tinubu’s decision to appoint Oluyede as Acting COAS was driven by a need for continuity in the Army’s leadership, ensuring that the military maintains its momentum in countering threats. 
Musa said, “We cannot afford to stay back and allow insecurity to continue to prevail. It is important that we all understand this clearly and give the acting COAS all the support to make sure he is successful.
“Gen. Lagbaja is somebody we all know as a regimented fine officer who would not want any gap to occur in his absence.
“That is why this event is taking place. So I want to count on all of us, whatever issues we have in mind, whatever opinions, please put it that Nigeria must survive, the armed forces must survive, and the services must survive.
“So everybody should put his hands on deck and let us succeed.
“To all our commanders out there in the field, the challenges are there, and we want to commend them for all the efforts they are making.
“We know they are performing magic, but we want to urge them not to relent because the bandits, the terrorists, and the criminals are not relenting.
“We are moving towards December, and we know the challenges that will come up. So we need to take all measures necessary to ensure that Nigeria remains peaceful.”
The CDS gave assurance that all the services would be working as a team to keep Nigeria safe in line with the mandate of the commander-in-chief.
According to him, by this appointment, the responsibilities of administering the Nigerian Army now rest on Maj.-Gen. Oluyede.
He added, “Your responsibilities are wide and varied and cannot be covered in this administrative note.
“All shall yield to your new responsibility and to begin to immediately continue administering the affairs of the Nigerian army.
“It is expected that at the end of this formal event, you will be briefed extensively by the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army) and other Principal Staff Officers of the Army.
“Accordingly, you have to note that your installation was based on your vast knowledge of military leadership at all levels, character, and competence.
“You are a member of a larger team of professional soldiers who are satisfied with the responsibility of defending the territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by land, sea, and air, as captured in our Constitution.
“It is therefore expected of you to consolidate and improve on the achievements of the substantive COAS and other past chiefs in order to sustain the high level of professionalism, discipline, resilience, and regimentation that the Nigerian army is known for all over the world.”
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