President Buhari Decorates New Service Chiefs

President Muhammadu Buhari Friday decorated the new Service Chiefs with their new ranks.

The ceremony held at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja.

Buhari charged the newly-appointed service chiefs to secure the country.

He said: ''I have charged the new Service Chiefs to keep in mind that the nation is looking to them for rapid relief. They must identify competent officers irrespective of seniority and paper qualifications, and work with them to secure this country. As C-in-C I am backing them 100 percent.

''As I assured at our last security meeting, I have taken responsibility as C-in-C for them to go out into the fields and every part of the country, to ensure peace and security. I have accepted responsibility for all actions taken in fulfillment of the mandate to secure Nigeria.

''My charge to the new Service Chiefs. Congratulations again to them, and I wish them the very best.

In their new ranks, the Service Chiefs are now General Lucky Irabor, Chief of Defense Staff; Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff; Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu, Chief of Naval Staff; and Air Marshal Ishiaka Oladayo Amoo, Chief of Air Staff.

The ceremony was witnessed by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo (SAN); the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha; Defense Minister, Major-General Bashir Magashi (Rtd); and the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari.

The new service chiefs were accompanied to the State House by their wives and other senior officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Recall that the Senate recently confirmed the new Service Chiefs.