Chuks Oyema
As Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, marks his first 100 days in office, early signals from Defence Headquarters suggest a tenure defined by coordination, renewed momentum, and a deliberate push to weld the Armed Forces into a more cohesive and professional fighting force.
From the outset, Gen. Oluyede made synergy among the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force and other security agencies a central plank of his leadership. Defence watchers say this emphasis has translated into tighter joint planning, improved intelligence sharing and more integrated operations across theatres of conflict. Rather than operating in silos, the services are increasingly being deployed as complementary arms of a single national security strategy.
This joint approach has been particularly evident in counter-terrorism operations. In the North East and North West, coordinated air and ground actions have aimed to degrade terrorist networks, disrupt logistics and deny insurgents freedom of movement.
Senior officers point to a clearer command-and-control structure and faster decision-making as key outcomes of the CDS’s early reforms.
Beyond kinetic operations, Gen. Oluyede has also placed strong emphasis on building a military that is firmly loyal to the Constitution and anchored on respect for human rights and the rule of law.
In directives to commanders and troops, he has underscored the Armed Forces’ role as protectors of democracy and the civilian population, stressing that operational effectiveness must go hand in hand with professionalism and accountability.
Training and engagement initiatives under his watch are aimed at reinforcing civil-military relations and ensuring that operations are conducted within internationally accepted human rights standards.
In addition, the CDS has placed renewed focus on economic security, especially the long-running challenge of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta.
Under his watch, the anti-oil theft security measures have been strengthened and aligned more closely with land-based and aerial surveillance. This multi-layered posture is intended to protect critical national assets, curb illegal bunkering and restore investor confidence in the oil and gas sector.
In internal engagements, Gen. Oluyede has reportedly stressed discipline, troop welfare and ethical conduct, reflecting his belief that morale, legitimacy and effectiveness are inseparable.
By engaging commanders across formations and theatres, he has sought to ensure that strategic directives from Defence Headquarters are clearly understood and uniformly implemented.
While Nigeria’s security challenges remain complex and deeply rooted, analysts say the tone of Gen. Oluyede’s first 100 days reflects a leadership intent on unity of effort, constitutional loyalty and sustained pressure on threats to national stability. As his tenure progresses, many will be watching to see how these early initiatives translate into lasting gains on the ground.
For now, the consensus in defence and security circles is that the CDS has used his opening months to lay a solid foundation—one built on cooperation among the services, respect for human rights, and a clear-eyed focus on terrorism and oil theft as critical fronts in Nigeria’s security landscape.
Chuks Oyema wrote in from Abuja
