Massive shake-up in Airforce, Navy

IN order to effectively checkmate the growing insecurity in the country, the Nigerian Airforce and the Navy, at the weekend, effected a massive shake-up in the two services in order to position them for effective operations.

Also, the shake-up became inevitable following the recent promotion of senior officers in the Nigerian Air Force and the Navy.

In the postings released by the Director of Airforce Public Relations, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas, Air Vice Marshal S.B. Abubakar is now the new Air Officer Commanding, Training Command, Kaduna, while his predecessor, Air Vice Marshal I. Umar, moves to Defence Headquarters as Chief of Policy & Plans;  Air Vice Marshal T. A. Adokwu is moved to Air Force Institute of Technology as Commandant, while Air Vice Marshal H. R. Mohammed replaced him as Chief of Aircraft, Engineering Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force.

In the shake-up also, Air Vice Marshal A. I. Shehu takes charge as the new Chief of Standards and Evaluation at the Air Force Headquarters; Air Vice Marshal J.M. Gbum moves as Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence, Defence Intelligence Agency, while Air Vice Marshals A.G. Idowu, FB Nyoyoko and M.M. Maisaka are posted to Defence Headquarters as Directors of Research and Development, Electronic Warfare and Medical Training and Operations, respectively.

Air Vice Marshal A.A. Zannah takes charge of the newly established Air Warfare Centre, Kainji; Air Vice Marshal B.C. Nweze moves to Nigerian Defence Academy as the Deputy Commandant; Air Vice Marshals M.A. Mohammed and L.S. Alao are appointed as Directors of Nigerian Air Force Transformation and Logistics, while Air Vice Marshal T.V. Udoh is the new Director, Technical Services, Defence Intelligence Agency.

The reorganisation also affected Air Commodore J.B. Adigun as Chairman Military Pensions Board and while Air Commodore K.G. Lar takes over as College Secretary, National Defence College.

Other newly appointed directors at the Air Force Headquarters include Air Commodores H.C. Ifezue, PC Ugwueke, M.A. Soladoye, M.R. Dabo, M.A. Muhammad, A.J. Bolajoko, E.I. Odouk and G.M. Iliyasu, to take charge of Directorates of Regiment, Provost Services, Information and Technology, Finance and Accounts, Legal Services, Medical Services, Education and Budget, respectively.

Similarly, Air Commodores K.O. George, A Shehu-Othman and D.O. Bolaji are posted to Defence Headquarters as Directors Civil-Military Relations, Legal Services and Intelligence, while  Air Commodore I. Shafi’i moves to the Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Oshodi as Director of Administration and Air Commodore C.A. Ogbeche is the new Managing Director, Nigerian Air Force Investment Limited. 

Among the newly appointed Commanders are Air Commodore K.C. Odibendi, Commander 207 Special Mobility Group, Calabar; Air Commodore A.D. Dudusola, 61 NAF Detachment Warri; Air Commodore P.J. Usman, 335 Base Services Group, Kaduna; Air Commodore A.J. Adagboye, 235 Base Services Group, Yenagoa; Air Commodore DL Sanda, Commander 237 Base Services Group, Minna; Group Captain AO Adole, 205 Rotary Group, Lagos; Group Captain OA Tuwase, Commander, 405 Central Armament Depot and Group Captain S.A. Adelakun, Commandant, Airforce Military School, AFMS, Jos.

According to the Airforce spokesman, the postings and appointments, which are with immediate effect, is in line with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh’s efforts at transforming the Nigerian Airforce for greater operational efficiency.

In another vein, the Navy also effected its own shakeup aimed at repositioning the service for better performance and as well to check illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta region.

The Naval Spokesman, Commodore Kabir Aliyu, in a statement at the weekend said that the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Joseph Ezeoba, approved appointment of 266 officers.

The appointments affected 20 rear admirals, 97 commodores, 99 captains, 4 lieutenant commanders, 44 lieutenants and 2 sub lieutenants.

The rear admirals affected in the exercise are Rear Admiral A.O.A. Ikioda, who moves from National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies to Defence Headquarters as Director of Equipment, Standardisation and Harmonisation; Rear Admiral J.O. Aikhomu, formerly Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, now appointed Chief of Administration, Naval Headquarters and Rear Admiral I.E. Ibas, formerly Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, is now the Deputy Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji. Rear Admiral I.A. Oyagha, who was Chief of Administration, Naval Headquarters, is reporting to Defence Headquarters as Director of Development.

Also appointed is former Flag Officer Commanding Naval Training Command, Rear Admiral A.I. Ajuonu, who moves to Defence Headquarters as Director of Sports.
Rear Admiral D.O. Osuofa has been appointed as a Moderator at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, while Rear Admiral S.U. Chinweuba is to move to Naval Headquarters as Chief of Naval Engineering.

Rear Admiral S.I. Alade, who was Deputy Commandant at Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, is reporting at Western Naval Command as Flag Officer Commanding. Rear Admiral A.A. Yusuf has also been appointed Commandant of the Nigerian Navy Engineering College, Sapele and Rear Admiral OP Ozojiofor is now the Navy Secretary.

Also, Rear Admiral L.O.N. Iwuoha is appointed Director of Logistics, Defence Intelligence Agency and Rear Admiral H.O. Ngonadi, former Navy Secretary, is now the Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, while Rear Admiral H.H. Babalola moves to Naval Headquarters as Director of Nigerian Navy Transformation Office.

Other appointments include Rear Admiral A.A. Osinowo, who has become the new Chief of Training and Operations, Naval Headquarters; Rear Admiral O.C. Medani, Director, Project Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation, Directorate and Rear Admiral J.O. Okojie, Director of Policy, Naval Headquarters.
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