Barely hours after sacking service chiefs, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved their replacements as follows: Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin, major-general, Chief of Defence Staff; T.Y. Buratai, major-general, Chief of Army Staff; Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, rear admiral, Chief of Naval Staff; Sadique Abubakar, air vice marshal, Chief of Air Staff; Monday Riku Morgan, air vice marshal, Chief of Defence Intelligence and Babagana Monguno, major-general, retired, National Security Adviser.
Olonishakin 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. Buratai 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.
Ibas, 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.
Abubakar, from Bauchi, previously served as 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.
Femi Adeshina, special assistant to the President on media and publicity, said the new Service Chiefs will hold their appointments in an acting capacity until confirmed by the Senate. 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.