President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the extension of the tenure of Nigeria’s service chiefs.

Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, confirmed, this through his Public Relations Officer, Colonel Tukur Gusau.

Dan-Ali, a retired Brigadier General, said President Buhari gave the approval after he carefully reviewed the ongoing military operations in the country.

“The President’s action came after having carefully reviewed the ongoing military operations across the nation, and the efforts of the Chief of Defence Staff and the Service Chiefs in the counter-insurgency operations in the North East, coupled with the security situation of the Niger Delta region,” the statement read.

According to the minister, the extension is in pursuant to the powers conferred on the President in sections 218 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution.

According to the statement, Mr. Buhari, as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, extended the tenure of the following staff: General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, Chief of Defence Staff; Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, Chief of Army Staff; Vice Admiral Ibok-EteIkwe Ibas, Chief of Naval Staff; and Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, Chief of Air staff.

The president approved the extension after thoroughly reviewing the Nigerian military’s ongoing war against Boko Haram and its operations in the Niger Delta.The extension, according to the minister, followed a careful review of the ongoing military operations across the nation.

Specifically, Dan-Ali said the president took into consideration the efforts of the officers in the counter-insurgency operations in the North-East and the security situation in the Niger Delta region.

He explained that the extension was pursuant to the powers conferred on the President by section 218 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution and section 09.06 of the revised Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for Officers (2012).

The minister congratulated the defence and military chiefs for earning the confidence of the President and the county’s citizens.