Meet Nigeria’s New Service Chiefs

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday injected fresh vigour into efforts by his administration to combat insurgency, banditry and other forms of criminality with the appointment of new service chiefs.

The appointments were described by analysts as a sign of the president bowing to pressure to replace the previous service chiefs in a bid to combat insecurity. On its part, the presidency said the new appointments were carried out in a bid to inject fresh ideas into the system.

Below a brief profile of each of the four new appointees.

 

Lucky Irabor (Chief of Defence Staff)

Maj. Gen. Lucky Eluonye Onyenuchea Irabor was born on 5 October 1965 in Aliokpu Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria. The senior officer gained admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Kaduna as a member of the 34 Regular Course in 1983 and was commissioned Second Lieutenant on 28 June 1986 into the Signals Corps of the Nigerian Army.

Irabor attended military and civil courses both locally and abroad. He attended Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC) for his Junior Staff Course in 1995 and Ghana Armed Forces Staff College, Teshi, Accra, Ghana for Senior Staff Course in 2000/2001 amongst others. He equally attended the National Defence College in Bangladesh in 2010 and Harvard Kennedy Schools of Government and Executive Education, the USA in 2012 and 2017 respectively. Irabor is a trained engineer from the Obafemi Awolowo University and holds two Masters Degrees from University of Ghana, Accra and Bangladesh University of Professionals, Dhaka.

 

Ibrahim Attahiru (Chief of Army Staff)

Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru was born on August 10, 1966, and hails from Kaduna North Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Ibrahim was a member of the 35th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).

Until his appointment as the Chief of Army Staff, he was the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Nigerian Army.

He was appointed to lead the offensive against Boko Haram in the North-east in May 2017, but was redeployed by his predecessor, Buratai, after a string of attacks by the insurgents. He had also failed to meet the July 2017 deadline given him to deliver Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, dead or alive within 40 days.

But Attahiru, in his valedictory speech as the theatre commander said his removal was routine and not as a result of failure to realise his mandate.

 

Awwal Gambo (Chief of Naval Staff)

Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo was born on 22 April 1966 and hails from Nasarawa LGA in Kano State. He enlisted into the Nigerian Navy on 24 September 84 as a member of Regular Course 36 and was commissioned Sub-Lieutenant on 24 September 1988. He is an underwater warfare specialist with a sub-specialisation in intelligence.

He has attended many military courses, including sub-technical course and officers’ long course at NNS QUORRA. He also attended Junior Division 48/99 and Senior Course 26 both at AFCSC Jaji. Other courses attended include the National Defence Course at the South African National Defence College. Until his appointment as the CNS, he was the Director of Procurement at the Defence Space Administration.

He holds a PGD in Transport Management and a Master’s degree in Transport Management (Logistics option) both from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso in Oyo State.

He is also a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management, Fellow of the Certified Institute of Shipping, Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria as well as a fellow of the National Defence College, South Africa.

The senior officer has been awarded the Grand Service Star, Distinguished Service Star, passed staff course among other decorations and awards. He is married to Hajiya Nana Aishat Gambo and the marriage is blessed with three children.

 

Isiaka Amao (Chief of Air Staff)

Air Vice-Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao was born on 14 September 1965 at Enugu. He hails from Osogbo Local Government Area of Osun State. He enlisted into the Nigerian Air Force on 19 January 1984 as a member of 35th Nigerian Defence Academy Regular Course and was commissioned as a pilot officer on 20 December 1986. He has the following academic qualifications: Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Defence and Strategic Studies from University of Madras India; Master of Military Science and Strategy (M.MSc.) and Advance Diploma in Defence and Strategy Studies from National Defence University (NDU) China, Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations and Diplomacy from Kaduna Polytechnic Nigeria, National Diploma in Freshwater and Fisheries Technology from Federal College of Freshwater and Fisheries Technology (FCFFT), New Bussa and Nigerian Defence Academy Certificate of Education.

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