Dr. Yahuza Getso, a security intelligence and investigation expert, has stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to relieve the former service chiefs of their duties will not solve Nigeria’s insecurity problems unless deeper structural problems are addressed. In an interview with BASEMEDIA, Dr. Getso described the sack as a normal and expected action, explaining that such replacements are routine and allow for the growth of younger officers. However, he stressed that merely changing the service chiefs “cannot have any impact” on the country’s security challenges, arguing that “Changing the service chiefs is not the way forward.” Dr. Getso commended the former service chiefs—General Christopher Musa, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, and Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar—calling them some of the most accessible and open officers Nigeria has had. He noted that under their command, the Nigerian military made progress in fighting Boko Haram, banditry, IPOB, and other criminal activities, and that they “transformed military operations with more technological innovation.” Despite acknowledging their efforts, Dr. Getso maintained that insecurity will persist because the root causes are systemic, not just a matter of military leadership. He firmly warned that the new service chiefs would be counted as “failures if corruption is not fought practically” and if they are not provided with an “enabling environment.” He strongly criticized Nigeria’s governance structure, stating, “Our judiciary is rotten, and many of our political office holders are not sincere or honest.” He argued that without fixing these problems, Nigeria will continue to deceive itself, and insecurity will “never end.” He further suggested that insecurity is “being deliberately sustained by some politicians for selfish gain.” For the country to move forward, Dr. Getso outlined the following necessary steps: a sincere and practical fight against corruption, fixing the judiciary, holding leaders accountable, improving technological operations, enhancing the welfare of security personnel, and adopting a community-driven approach that engages youths in intelligence sharing. He concluded that without sincerity from leaders and citizens, and without a practical fight against corruption, the country cannot move forward.
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