Security analyst Bulama Bukarti has said that merely rotating Nigeria’s service chiefs will not address the nation’s persistent security challenges without deep structural reforms.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics following President Bola Tinubu’s recent military reshuffle, Bukarti acknowledged that the newly appointed service chiefs are competent but insisted that reforms, not rotation, are what Nigeria needs.
“All of the new service chiefs are eminently qualified based on their background and experience,” Bukarti said. “However, we’ve seen leadership changes many times before. Without reforming the system, these changes amount to mere rotation, which will not solve our national security problem.”
He stressed that innovation and strategic restructuring are critical to improving Nigeria’s defence architecture. “It’s not about their paper qualifications; it’s about whether they have the initiative to reform the military and security structure,” he added.
In a major shake-up announced Friday, President Tinubu appointed General Olufemi Oluyede as the new Chief of Defence Staff, replacing General Christopher Musa. Other new appointees include Major-General W. Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke as Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral I. Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff. Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye retained his position as Chief of Defence Intelligence.
According to a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, the new service chiefs are expected to “enhance professionalism, vigilance, and comradeship” across the armed forces.
Bukarti urged the new military leadership to overhaul Nigeria’s approach to fighting insurgency and adopt a more flexible war strategy. “For the past three years, we’ve not seen any dramatic change in our fighting philosophy,” he said. “The key question is whether the new chiefs have the courage to reform the system. Without that, nothing will change.”
He also commented on reports of about 140 officers retiring amid the reshuffle, describing it as both a loss and an opportunity. “While it’s concerning to lose experienced officers, it creates room for others who’ve been stagnant to rise,” he noted.
Bukarti described the President’s decision to sack the former service chiefs as unexpected but a sign of dissatisfaction with their performance.
Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) criticized the sudden change in military leadership, urging the government to explain the move amid reports of an alleged coup attempt. The party warned that Nigeria’s security focus should be on stability and the growing unrest in the Sahel region.
The outgoing service chiefs General Musa, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, and Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar had served since June 2023, overseeing key operations against Boko Haram, ISWAP, and bandit groups in the North.
