A security intelligence and investigation expert, Dr. Yahuza Getso, has said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent decision to relieve the former service chiefs of their duties will not bring an end to insecurity in Nigeria unless deeper structural problems are addressed.
In an exclusive interview on Sunday, Dr. Getso described the sack as normal and expected, explaining that such replacements happen in line with the rules guiding military appointments.
However, he stressed that the move alone will not solve the country’s security challenges.
“Well, sacking or relieving service chiefs is normal, it’s not something new. They are expected to serve for a minimum of two years, after which they can either be renewed or relieved,” he said.
“This change simply allows younger officers to grow and gives the old ones time to rest. It doesn’t mean anything special or tribalistic. The President has the right to do it at his own convenience. No one can really say the motive behind the president’s decision, but time will tell.”
Dr. Getso, however, warned that merely changing service chiefs cannot automatically improve security.
“It cannot have any impact. Changing the service chiefs is not the way forward. We know what the real problem is, and it is not about who occupies the position.”
He praised the outgoing service chiefs General Christopher Musa (Chief of Defence Staff), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja (Chief of Army Staff), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla (Chief of Naval Staff), and Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar (Chief of Air Staff) describing them as some of the most open and accessible officers Nigeria has had in recent years.
“As far as I’m concerned, they have done a marvellous and wonderful job,” Dr. Getso said.
“They deserve every Nigerian’s clap. They were open to listening to everyone, even journalists, and they never changed their phone numbers since their early days in service. They remained accessible and responsive.”
He noted that under their leadership, the Nigerian military made progress in various operational areas from fighting Boko Haram in the North East, to confronting banditry in the North West, IPOB in the South East, and criminal activities in the South-South and South West.
“They transformed military operations with more technological innovation. Though they may not have achieved 100 percent success, they tried their best within the environment they were given.”
Despite acknowledging their efforts, Dr. Getso argued that insecurity in Nigeria will persist unless corruption is genuinely tackled and government institutions particularly the judiciary, legislature, and executive are reformed to support accountability.
“The truth is, changing service chiefs won’t take us anywhere because what matters is not just the capacity or weapons,” Dr. Getso said.
“Do we have the political will? Do the service chiefs have an enabling environment? Are we really fighting corruption? Our judiciary is rotten, and many of our political office holders are not sincere or honest. Were they truly elected or merely anointed? Until we fix these problems and hold leaders accountable, we will continue deceiving ourselves and insecurity will never end.
“Count the new service chiefs as failures if corruption is not fought practically,” he warned.
“If there’s no enabling environment, if people are not held accountable, and if corruption continues within the hierarchy of security agencies and government institutions, then the new chiefs cannot succeed. They are not magicians.”
He further stated that insecurity in Nigeria is being deliberately sustained by some politicians for selfish gain.
“We are deceiving ourselves in Nigeria,” he said.
“Some people are benefiting from insecurity to achieve their political goals. Until we are sincere and ready to fight corruption and fix our rotten judiciary, insecurity will continue to widen.”
Getso outlined what he believes should be the way forward, emphasizing the need for sincerity, accountability, and a community-driven approach.
“The way forward is to hold people accountable, reach out to the criminals where they are, and fix our judicial system,” he explained.
“We must improve technological operations, enhance the welfare of security personnel, and engage youths in community-based monitoring and intelligence sharing.”
He added that the government must also focus on monitoring and performance-based assessments across security institutions while eliminating corruption from within.
“The way forward is not just about appointing new service chiefs. We must fight corruption sincerely and in practice, not on paper. Our judiciary must be fixed because it is already rotten. The government should modernize operational strategies through technology and improve the welfare of military and paramilitary personnel. We also need a community-driven approach that engages young people in intelligence gathering and strengthens communication between citizens and security agencies. Above all, there must be accountability, proper monitoring, and sincere coordination between the executive, legislature, and judiciary to create an environment where security agencies can truly succeed.
“Without sincerity from the leaders and citizens, and without a practical fight against corruption, we can’t move forward,” he concluded.
President Bola Tinubu will today (Wednesday) embark on a two-nation visit to Johannesburg, South Africa and Luanda, Angola.
“President Tinubu’s first stop is Johannesburg, where he will attend the 20th summit of the G20 Leaders. After the summit, he will proceed to Angola for the AU-EU summit,” the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed in a statement Tuesday evening.
The G20 meeting holds at the Johannesburg Expo Centre from Saturday, November 22, to Sunday, November 23, followed by the AU–EU summit in Luanda from November 24–25.
Invited by South Africa’s President, Cyril Ramaphosa, Chairperson for this year’s G20, Tinubu will join leaders under the theme, “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” the first G20 hosted on African soil.
The summit will consider inclusive and sustainable growth, debt and development finance, disaster-risk reduction, climate action and just energy transitions, food systems, critical minerals, decent work and artificial intelligence.
The Presidency said the Nigerian leader will also hold bilateral meetings on the margins of the G20 “in furtherance of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” and to discuss regional peace, security and development.
The African Union, now a full member of the G20 alongside the EU, is expected to participate in Johannesburg.
After the G20 in Johannesburg, Tinubu will join other Heads of State and Government for the AU–EU summit in Luanda, which brings leaders, innovators and civil society together on climate, inclusive development, infrastructure, digital economy, the creative sector, manufacturing and agribusiness.
He will be accompanied by senior officials, including the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Finance and the Economy, Solid Minerals, and Trade and Investment, as well as the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency.
The President is due back in Nigeria at the end of both meetings, Onanuga stated.
While the G20 summit makes it Tinubu’s third trip to South Africa since assuming office, he is visiting Luanda, Angola for the first time as Head of State.
President Bola Tinubu has dispatched Vice President Kashim Shettima to Kebbi State to meet with grieving families of the schoolgirls abducted from a boarding school in Maga.
He also promised that the government is working to ensure their safe and swift return.
This is just as he said the abducation took despite intelligence warnings of a possible strike by the bandits.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President also extended condolences to the military over the deaths of several soldiers and Brigadier General Musa Uba, who were killed in action while battling insurgents in Borno State.
Tinubu said he had been fully briefed by military authorities on both incidents and expressed deep sorrow over the attack on the school.
He noted that the abduction occurred “despite intelligence warnings of a possible strike by the bandits,” while commending Kebbi State Governor Mohammed Nasir Idris “for the efforts made to avert the kidnapping.”
Describing the attack as a painful setback, the President urged communities—particularly those in security-vulnerable areas—to work more closely with security operatives.
While lamenting the dual tragedies, Tinubu declared, “As the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, I am depressed with the tragic death of our soldiers and officers on active duty. May God comfort the families of Brigadier General Musa Uba and other fallen heroes.”
He said he was equally troubled by the assault on schoolchildren, stating, “I am also depressed that heartless terrorists have disrupted the education of innocent schoolgirls. I have directed the security agencies to act swiftly and bring the girls back to Kebbi State.”
The President emphasized that citizen cooperation remains central to weakening criminal networks and preventing further attacks.
“Our security forces cannot succeed in protecting us if the people don’t cooperate and share information that will help them keep our communities safe.
“I urge community leaders and our compatriots across the country, especially those in the theatres of operations, to share useful information. Your cooperation is crucial in our fight against these security challenges,” he said.
Vice President Shettima is expected in Kebbi on Wednesday to meet with state officials, reassure affected parents, and convey the President’s message of solidarity and commitment, the statement noted.
The Senate on Tuesday intensified pressure on the Federal Government to overhaul Nigeria’s security architecture, urging President Bola Tinubu to immediately approve the recruitment of 100,000 fresh military personnel to confront insurgency, banditry and the rising wave of school abductions across the country.
Lawmakers also demanded a full investigation into the Safe School Programme, questioning how funds allocated to the initiative were spent despite repeated attacks on educational institutions.
Their concerns were provoked by the deadly raid on Government Girls School, Maga, in Kebbi State, where gunmen killed the vice principal and reportedly abducted 25 students.
The debate followed additional prayers raised by Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) during plenary, which triggered a heated session on Nigeria’s worsening security situation.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, presided over the sitting and later moved the chamber into a closed-door meeting to discuss classified details.
Oshiomhole, while leading the call for massive recruitment and a security audit, warned that the scale of insecurity required a strategic expansion of the armed forces.
“I urged the President and the armed forces to recruit an additional 100,000 military personnel so we can have enough members and women in our troops. It is also another way to create employment for our youthful population.”
He faulted the alleged commercialisation of national security and demanded answers about the Safe School funds.
“People have turned our security to business. We should not monetise the death of our people by those living. What happened to the money earmarked for the Safe School programme?”
