Nigeria’s military faces significant challenges in combating terrorism and banditry due to inadequate funding and resources, the newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has said.

Oluyede made the remarks on Wednesday during his screening at the National Assembly for the post of CDS. He emphasized the need for Nigeria to establish a robust local military-industrial base to enhance counter-terrorism and security operations.

“We all know that resources are not enough. The enablers are not sufficient. This makes it very difficult to get everything required to prosecute the war against terrorism, banditry, and other sundry crimes in Nigeria,” Oluyede stated.

He called on the federal government to develop local capacity for producing military equipment instead of relying heavily on foreign purchases, which are often prohibitively expensive.

“It is imperative for the country to develop its own capacity to produce the required equipment to prosecute wars and meet the security challenges confronting us,” he added.

The CDS also highlighted the importance of addressing cyber threats, misinformation, and propaganda, noting that unchecked information warfare could undermine national security efforts.

Oluyede further stressed the need to improve the welfare of soldiers and their families, emphasizing that military service requires a level of personal sacrifice and commitment unlike any other profession.

“For a right-thinking person, danger calls for retreat. But for a soldier, the duty is to advance and confront the threat,” he said.

On the issue of security jurisdiction, Oluyede called for a restructuring and strengthening of the Nigeria Police Force, arguing that much of the domestic security workload currently handled by the military falls within police responsibilities.

The newly appointed CDS, alongside the new Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sunday Aneke; and Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, were all screened and confirmed by the Senate in a closed-door session on Wednesday. The confirmations were passed unanimously in a voice vote led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

President Bola Tinubu announced Oluyede’s elevation from Chief of Army Staff to Chief of Defence Staff on October 24, 2025, as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture. The reshuffle also saw the appointments of Shaibu, Aneke, and Abbas to their respective service chief positions, while Major-General Emmanuel Undiendeye was retained as Chief of Defence Intelligence.

Oluyede assured Nigerians that while progress is being made in counterinsurgency and anti-banditry operations, adequate funding and citizen cooperation remain critical to achieving lasting results.