Nigerian defence chief vows to revive onslaught against Boko Haram

Nigeria's newly appointed Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) has said the ongoing military operations against Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast would be reviewed for greater efficiency. Olonishakin, who made this known in Abuja, Nigeria's capital city at a handing over ceremony, said he would meet with the service chiefs and other officers to brainstorm on the planned changes. The CDS, who formally took over from his predecessor, retired Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, said the review would be done to address the new mandate of the armed forces. He added that the new leadership would address emerging challenges in ongoing counter-insurgency operation in the restive northeast region. He said the operations would be given new time lines with specific strategic targets, adding that the command and control center in Maiduguri would be repositioned. Badeh, who handed over to Olonishakin at a closed door ceremony, urged the new leadership of the armed forces to be resolute in stemming the tide of Boko Haram. He also urged officers and men of the armed forces to support the new service chiefs to succeed in their various tasks of safeguarding the nation from terrorists. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Navy said it had reduced incidence of oil theft from 2.4 million barrels per month in 2014 to 300,000 barrels per month as at June, 2015. The outgoing Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, also disclosed this at a handing over ceremony to his successor, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas. Jibrin said the feat was one of the achievements recorded by the Navy under his command. He said curbing the menace of oil thieves in the Niger Delta region was a daunting task that was surmounted by the Navy. Jibrin urged the incoming naval administration to build on the successes recorded in the past months with the bid to taking the Navy to greater heights. Similarly, the new Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sadeeq Abubakar, pledged to sustain the gains of his predecessor, retired Air Marshal Adesola Amosun. Abubakar said his administration would evaluate the achievements recorded and build on them. He said the Airforce would increase its operational fire power in the counter-insurgency operation in the North East. The outgoing NAF Chief, Amosun, urged the new administration to sustain the service's operations in the region, particularly in providing air surveillance and sundry support.