Nigerian News

Tinubu Removes All Service Chiefs, Others

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has removed all service chiefs in Nigeria and appointed new ones whom he directed to resume with immediate effect.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has approved the immediate retirement of all Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, Advisers, Comptroller-General of Customs from Service as well as their replacements with immediate effect,” read a statement on Monday by Willie Bassey, the Director of Information on behalf of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume.

Those affected in the unprecedented shakeup include Alkali Usman who was removed as the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Lucky Irabor, sacked as the Chief of Defence Staff; Faruk Yahaya, retired as the Chief of Army Staff; Awwal Gambo, removed as the Chief of Naval Staff; and Isiaka Amao, retired as Chief of Air Staff.

The President subsequently appointed new service chiefs in the country and named a former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, as his new National Security Adviser (NSA). Ribadu replaces Babagana Monguno as the nation’s NSA.

Maj. Gen. C.G Musa is now the Chief of Defence Staff, Maj. Gen T. A Lagbaja is now the Chief of Army Staff, Rear Admiral E. A Ogalla now the Chief of Naval Staff, AVM H.B Abubakar now the Chief of Air Staff, DIG Kayode Egbetokun now the Acting Inspector-General of Police and Maj. Gen. EPA Undiandeye is now the Chief of Defense Intelligence.

Tinubu also approved the appointment of Adeniyi Adewale as the Acting Comptroller General of Customs. He takes over from Hameed Ali.

“It is to be noted that the appointed Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police and the Comptroller General of Customs are to act in their positions, pending their confirmation in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Bassey stressed.

The move by the President followed persistent calls by civil society organisations that the security architecture be rejigged and fresh hands allowed to handle the nation’s security apparatus.

Between May 2015 and May 2023, verifiable data showed that over 55,000 Nigerians were killed by terrorists, bandits, and armed gangs during the administration of immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari. The former military head of state was criticised by many over the alarming killings in the country under his watch.

During his inauguration speech, Tinubu, who took over from Buhari, his fellow party man on May 29, 2023, promised to “defend the nation from terror and all forms of criminality that threaten the peace and stability of our country”, adding that “to effectively tackle this menace, we shall reform both our security doctrine and its architecture”.

Tinubu had previously suspended Abdulrasheed Bawa as EFCC chairman and Godwin Emefiele as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

See full list:

Newly appointed Service Chiefs
1Mallam Nuhu RibaduNational Security Adviser (NSA)
2Maj. Gen. C.G MusaChief of Defence Staff (CDS)
3Maj. Gen. T. A LagbajaChief of Army Staff (COAS)
4Rear Admiral E. A OgallaChief of Naval Staff (CNS)
5AVM H.B AbubakarChief of Air Staff (CAS)
6DIG Kayode EgbetokunAg Inspector-General of Police
7Maj. Gen. EPA UndiandeyeChief of Defense Intelligence
Other appointments
1Col. Adebisi OnasanyaBrigade of Guards Commander
2Lt. Col. Moshood Abiodun Yusuf7 Guards Battalion, Asokoro, Abuja
3Lt. Col. Auwalu Baba Inuwa177, Guards Battalion, Keffi, Nasarawa State
4Lt. Col. Mohammed J. Abdulkarim102 Guards Battalion, Suleja, Niger
5Lt. Col. Olumide A. Akingbesote176 Guards Battalion, Gwagwalada, Abuja
6Maj.  Isa Farouk Audu (N/14695)Commanding Officer State House Artillery
7Capt. Kazeem Olalekan Sunmonu (N/16183)Second-in-Command, State House Artillery
8Maj. Kamaru Koyejo Hamzat (N/14656)Commanding Officer, State House Military Intelligence
9Maj. T. S. Adeola (N/12860)Commanding Officer, State House Armament
10Lt. A. Aminu (N/18578)Second-in- Command, State House Armament
11Hadiza Bala UsmanSpecial Adviser, Policy Coordination
12Hannatu  Musa MusawaSpecial Adviser, Culture and Entertainment Economy
13Sen. Abdullahi Abubakar GumelSenior Special Assistant , National Assembly Matters  (Senate)
14Hon. (Barr) Olarewaju Kunle IbrahimSenior Special Assistant, National Assembly Matters  (HoR)

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