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Changing service chiefs won’t end insecurity in Nigeria – Getso
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.
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