Promotions galore as NAF, NNN, Army elevate 265 senior officers

The Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force councils have announced the promotions of 265 senior military officers to their next ranks.

A statement by the Director of Public Relations, Nigerian Army, Brig. General Sani Usman, said that 45 Brigadier Generals have been promoted to the rank of Major General and 92 Colonels to the rank of Brigadier-General.

Some of those promoted to the rank of Two Star Generals (Major-Generals) include Brigadier General H.O. Otiki, Brigadier General O.O. Soleye, Brigadier General AT Hamman, Brigadier General F Yahaya, Brigadier General B.A.
Ahanotu, Brigadier General I.M. Yusuf and Brigadier General S.O. Olabanji.

Others are Brigadier General J.I. Unuigbe, Brigadier General A.A. Jidda, Brigadier General J.E. Jakko, Brigadier General V.O. Ezugwu and Brigadier General A.C.C. Agundu, Brigadier General H.E. Ayamasaowei and Brigadier General MS Yusuf, Commander Guards Brigade. Late Brigadier General B.A. Raji was promoted posthumously.

Brigadier General O.F. Azinta, Brigadier General J. Sarham, Brigadier General T.A. Gagariga, Brigadier General L.F. Abdullahi, Brigadier General JGK Myam and Brigadier General U.S. Yakubu were also promoted major generals.

The One Star Generals (Brigadier Generals) includes Colonel A. Israel, Colonel C.O.C. Ekulide, Colonel S.O.F. Olowolayemo, Colonel J.T.E. Chukwu, Colonel E.E. Eyong and the prolific writer, Colonel DC Nengite, as well as Colonel C.A. Dalhatu and Colonel U.N. Babangida.

Others include Colonels U.I. Mohammed, Colonel N.U. Mukhtar, Colonel O.G. Onubogu, Colonel S.T. Shafaru, Colonel
G.G. Shipi, Colonel A.S. Ishaq of 8 Division Provost Group, Colonel A.O.I. Kalajaiye, Colonel J.C. Mbibi, Colonel J.T.E. Chukwu, Colonel H.A. Gambo and Colonel L.B. Mohammed, among others.

The Nigerian Air Force council also announced the promotions 50 senior officers , comprising 22 air commodores and 28 group captains, to the next higher ranks in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

Those elevated to the rank of Air Vice Marshal include the Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters NAF (HQ NAF), Olatokunbo Adesanya; Principal Director, Air Force Research and Development Center, Kaduna, Paul Jemitola; Senior Air Staff Officer, Tactical Air Command, Makurdi, Charles Ohwo; Director of Procurement, HQ NAF, Mohammed Yakubu; Commander 631 Aircraft Maintenance Depot, Lagos, Emmanuel Wonah; Director of Material and Systems Management, Frank Oparah; Director of Civil Military Relations, HQ NAF,
Others to the rank of Air Vice Marshal are Ubrufih Uzezi, Director of Air Engineering, HQ NAF Hyacinth Eze; Commander 455 Base Services Group, Kano, Abubakar Liman, Air Component Commander, OPERATION LAFIYA DOLE, Idi Lubo; Commander 151 Base Services Group, Makurdi, Samuel Babalola; Director of Administration, HQ NAF, Nelson Calmday.

Others include Air Commodores Musa Tanko, Managing Director NAF Properties Ltd; Haruna Mohammed, Commandant NAF Institute of Safety, Ipetu Ijesh; Olusegun Philip, Director of Manuals, HQ NAF; Aliyu Pani, Commander 051 Personnel Management Group, Lagos; Chinwendu Onyike, Command Logistics Officer, Tactical Air Command, Makurdi; Suleiman Mohammed, Commander 109 Combat and Rescue Group, Makurdi; Dahiru Sanda, Deputy Director Policy, Defence Headquarters, Abuja; John Ochomma, Commander 081 Pay and Accounting Group Ikeja; Idi Amin, 351 Base Services Group, Minna; and Mahmud Madi, Commander 115 Special Operations Group, Port Harcourt.

The senior officers promoted from Group Captain to Air Commodore include Abubakar Abdullahi, Abraham Adole, Adebayo Kahinde, Michael Onyebashi, Uchechi Nwagwu, Ebimobo Ebiowe, Nnaemeka Ilo, Patrick Philips, Amos Bulus, Ahmed Bakari, Anthony Ndace, Halim Adebowale, Hassan Alhaji, Alfred Shogbanmu, Idi Sani, Usman Abdullahi, Kabir Umar, Olufemi Ogunsina, Mohammed Suleiman, David Aluku, Raymond Nwankwo, Lawal Danzangi, Razaq Shittu, Babatunde Ajayi, Samuel Chinda, Paul Irumheson, Friday Ogohi and late Adanu Ochai (posthumous).

A statement by Wing Commander Bassey Okon said the promotions are in line with one of the key drivers of the vision of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, which is to promote and inculcate the core values of integrity, excellence and service delivery among NAF personnel.

It is noteworthy that the exemplary and selfless sacrifice of late Air Commodore Adanu Ochai was recognized and rewarded by the CAS through his posthumous promotion.

Also yesterday the Navy Board has approved the promotions of 78 senior officers. The breakdown shows 18 commodores were promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral, 40 captains were promoted to the flag rank of Commodore and 20 commanders were promoted to the rank of Captain.

Among the newly promoted rear admirals are Commodore Michael Ebe, Director of Administration, Nigerian Defence Academy-Kaduna, Commodore David Adeniran, Commodore Naval Drafting, Commodore Uchenna Onyia, Chief Staff Officer, Logistics Command Oghara-Delta State, Commodore Ahamefule Eluwa, a Moderator at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru-Jos and Commodore Dolapo Kolawole, Commander NNS LUGARD, Lokoja-Kogi State.

Other new rear admirals are Commodore Shuwa Mohammed, Deputy Director Monitoring and Evaluation at Defence Headquarters, Commodore Maurice Eno, Commander NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Abraham Adaji, Director of Operations, Naval Headquarters, Commodore Jatau Luka, Director of Logistics, Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Oshodi-Lagos, Commodore Ibikunle Olaiya, Director of Naval Intelligence, Commodore Kamarudeen Lawal, Director of Logistics, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji-Kaduna and Commodore Saidu Garba, Commander NNS JUBILEE, Ikot Abasi.

Also in the list of newly promoted rear admirals are Commodore Jasson Gbassa, Director of Manning, Naval Headquarters, Commodore Sanusi Ibrahim, Deputy Director (Navy) Liaison Senate, Commodore Samaila Lassa, Nigeria’s Defence Attache to South Africa, Commodore Muhammad Nagenu, Director of Air Operations, Naval Headquarters, Commodore Mbom Ekanem-Nesiama, Commander, Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, Ojo-Lagos and Commodore Aminu Almu, Director of Naval Education, Naval Headquarters.

Andrew Orolua, Abuja.