Photos: Nigeria New Service Chiefs

The new appointees, according to Adesina’s statement, are, Chief of Defence Staff, Maj.Gen. Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin; Chief of Army Staff, Maj.Gen. T.Y. Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas; Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar; and Chief of Defence Intelligence, Air Vice Marshal Monday Riku Morgan.

The new CDS, Olonishakin (N/6901) hails from Ekiti State and until his appointment, was the Head of the Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command in Minna, Niger State.

The new CAS, Buratai, hails from Borno State. He was, until his new appointment, the Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force, which has its headquarters in Ndjamena, Republic of Chad.

Buratai had previously served as Commander of the Nigerian Army’s 2nd Brigade in Port Harcourt, Rivers State; and Commander of the Nigerian Army School of Infantry in Jaji, Kaduna State.

The new CNS, Ibas (NN/0746), hails from Cross River State. He 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.

Ibas had previously served as the 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 the CNS, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Navy Holdings Limited.

The new Chief of Air Staff, Abubakar (NAF/1433), hails from Bauchi State. Before his new appointment, he had previously served as Chief of Standards and Evaluation, NAF Headquarters; Chief of Defence Communications and Air Officer Commanding, NAF Training Command. He was the Chief of Administration, NAF Headquarters, until his new appointment.

The new Chief of Defence Intelligence, Morgan, hails from Benue State. He was commissioned into the Nigerian Air Force as a Pilot Officer in June, 1982. He once served as the Air Officer Commanding, NAF Logistics Command.

The new NSA was a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 21st Regular Course.

Before his retirement from the Army, he held several command and staff appointments including, Commander, Guards Brigade; Deputy Commandant, National Defence College; Chief of Defence Intelligence, Chief of Defence Logistics and Commander, Training and Doctrine Command.
Adesina said the new service chiefs would hold their appointments in an acting capacity until confirmed by the Senate.