President Bola Tinubu on Thursday charged the newly appointed service chiefs to be innovative in combating the security challenges that have plagued the country for over a decade.

Mr Tinubu, according to a statement by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, gave this charge at the decoration of the service chiefs at the Presidential Villa on Thursday.

The president recalled how insecurity started under the previous administration of the Peoples Democratic Party.

“We cannot allow the crisis that began in 2009 to persist any longer,” said Mr Tinubu. “I charge you, as the heads of our nation’s armed forces, to carry out your duties with patriotic zeal.”

The president added, “Nigerians expect results, not excuses. I also urge you to be innovative, pre-emptive, and courageous. Let’s stay ahead of those who seek to threaten our peace. Let us deploy technology where necessary.”

Mr Tinubu urged the service chiefs to synergise and work together in combating new insurgent groups that are emerging, warning that they must not fester like the Boko Haram insurgents.

“Security threats are constantly evolving and mutating. Of grave concern to our administration is the recent emergence of new armed groups in the North-Central, North-West, and parts of the South. We must not allow these new threats to fester. We must be decisive and proactive. Let us smash the new snakes right at the head,” Mr Tinubu said.

The service chiefs who were promoted and decorated by Mr Tinubu include the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lieutenant General Emmanuel Parker Undiandeye; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke.

Present at the decoration ceremony at the Council Chambers were Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, his deputy, Senator Barau Jibrin, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and his deputy, Benjamin Kalu.

The governors of Kwara, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak; Jigawa, Umar Namadi; Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; and Ogun, Dapo Abiodun, were also in attendance.