After weeks of speculations and anxiety, the President, Muhammadu Buhari has finally sacked the service chiefs and the National Security Adviser he inherited from the immediate past administration of Goodluck Jonathan and has appointed new replacements.
The new NSA is Major-General Babagana Monguno (rtd.), who took over from Col. Dasuki Sambo (rtd) while the new service chiefs include Major-General Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin as Chief of Defence Staff, replacing Air Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh. and Major-General T.Y. Buratai , Chief of Army Staff, he also takes over from Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah.
Others are Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, Chief of Naval Staff; Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff; and Air Vice Marshal Monday Riku Morgan, Chief of Defence Intelligence.
A statement by Mr. Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, noted that “the new Service Chiefs will hold their appointments in an acting capacity until confirmed by the Senate”.
Adesina noted in the statement that President Buhari thanked “the outgoing Service Chiefs and National Security Adviser for their services to the nation and wishes them well in their future endeavours”.
According to the statement, “The new Chief of Defence Staff, Maj.-Gen. Olonishakin (N/6901) hails from Ekiti State. Until his appointment as Chief of Defence Staff today, he was the Head of the Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command in Minna, Niger State.
“The new Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Buratai hails from Borno State. Until his new appointment today, he was the Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force which has its headquarters in Ndjamena.
“Maj-Gen. Buratai has previously served as Commander of the Nigerian Army’s 2nd Brigade in Port Harcourt and Commander of the Nigerian Army School of Infantry in Jaji, Kaduna State”.
Adesina added that the new Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibas (NN/0746) who hails from Cross River State enlisted into the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the 26th Regular Course in 1979 and was commissioned as a Sub-Lieutenant in 1983.
“His previous appointments include: Naval Provost Marshal, Chief Staff Officer, Naval Training Command, Chief of Administration, Naval Headquarters, Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command and Chief of Logistics, Naval Headquarters. Until his appointment as Chief of Naval Staff, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Navy Holdings Limited”, he stated.
He further noted that the new Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar (NAF/1433) hails from Bauchi State.
“His previous appointments include: Chief of Standards and Evaluation, NAF Headquarters; Chief of Defence Communications and Air Officer Commanding, NAF Training Command. Until his new appointment today as Chief of Air Staff, he was the Chief of Administration, NAF Headquarters”.
