The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) has announced the promotion of 235 officers to the ranks of one and two stars generals.
The promotions were released after the sitting of the Army council, Navy council and the Air council respectively at the ministry of Defence with the minister Maj.-Gen Bashir Magashi (retd) presiding as chairman.
In the latest promotion, the Nigerian Army promoted 36 officers to the ranks of Major Generals from Brigadier Generals, while 76 Colonels were promoted to Brigadier Generals.
The Nigerian Navy promoted 21 Commodores to Rear Admirals and 36 Captains to Commodores, while the Nigerian Air force (NAF) promoted 29 new Air Vice Marshals from Air Commodores and 36 Group Captains to Air Commodores.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao has urged the newly promoted senior officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) to see the elevation as an impetus to re-dedicate themselves towards effective and efficient service delivery.
NAF spokesperson Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet who stated this in a statement Wednesday, said the newly promoted senior officers will be decorated with their new ranks at a later date
According to the statement “the senior officers promoted to the rank of Air Vice Marshal include Air Cdres Precious Amadi, Nnamdi Ananaba, Abubakar Abdulkadir, Anthony Ndace, Usman Abdullahi, Eneobong Effiom, Iboro Etukudo, Abubakar Abdullahi, Sunday Aneke, Nnaemeka Ilo, Adeniyi Amesinlola, Ebimobo Ebiowe, Micheal Onyebashi, Emmanuel Shobande, Sayo Olatunde, Francis Edosa, Ahmed Shinkafi, Bashiru Mamman and Halim Adebowale. Others are Ahmed Bakari, Framah Batnah, Adeniran Ademuwagun, Lanre Oluwatoyin, Titus Dauda, Olufemi Ogunsina, Paul Masiyer, Nkem Aguiyi, Abidemi Marquis and Oluwafemi Ogunmola.
“Those promoted from the rank of Group Captain to Air Commodore are Gp Capts Chukwuedo Illoh, Bamidele Amuda, Samson Adelakun, Hadi Ahmed, Abiodun Oyekunle, Caleb Olayera, Idorenyin Bassey, Philip Kwasau, Mohammed Omar, Ayodele Akinbuwa, Emeng Imoke, Luqman Lawal, Shaibu Buhari and Ehimen Ejodame. Others include Mohammed Lawal, Idowu Ayo, Emmanuel Ola, Ewejide Akintunde, Elisha Bindul, Dogo Gani, Edmond Oluokun, Akeem Adebomehin, George Akinyimika, Mohammed Garba, Oladimeji Almaroof, Gowon Sule, Ifeanyi Azubuike, Hamisu Usman, Adebanjo Adeosun, Sabir Adeyanju and Halima Musa who is the only female officer on the list. The SNCOs granted concessional Commission to the rank of Flight Lieutenant include Air Warrant Officer Adole Abraham, Master Warrant Officers Liman Musa, Akinwale Olayinka, Akpabio Josephine, Nwojiji Okemini and Isa-Kaita Aminu. “
A total of 117 senior officers were promoted by the Nigerian Army Council.
Of the number, 41 Brigadier Generals were promoted to the rank of Major General, while 76 Colonels were promoted to Brigadier General.
The Director of Army Public Relations Brigadier General, Onyema Nwachukwu disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
He listed those promoted to the rank of Major General include Brigadier General CU Onwunle Director, Directorate of Army Data Processing Lagos, Brigadier General M Danmadami Research Fellow/Subject Expert, Indian Sub-Continental at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre Abuja, Brigadier General OJ Akpor, Director Military Training Nigerian Defence Academy, Brigadier General UT Musa of the Department of Administration Army Headquarters Abuja, Brigadier General AA Eyitayo, Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division/JTF NE Operation HADIN KAI Maiduguri, Borno State.
Others are Brigadier General V Ebhaleme of Defence Space Administration Abuja, Brigadier General Lt. Omoniyi of Department of Civil Military Affairs Abuja and Brigadier General NU Muktar Acting Director of Procurement at the Office of the Chief of Army Staff, Army Headquarters Abuja amongst others.
Onyema also listed those promoted to Brigadier General include, Colonel O Adegbe Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command Minna, Colonel AA Babalola Headquarters 3 Division, Colonel NN Orok of Defence Headquarters, Colonel MO Ibrahim Army War College Nigeria, Col BO Omopariola Commander 25 Task Force Brigade, Colonel UV Unachukwu Army War College Nigeria, Colonel OAO Ojo Headquarters Nigerian Army Signals Lagos and Col HI Dasuki of the Forward Operating Base, Ngamdu, Borno State amongst others
He said the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya congratulated the promoted officers and their families, urging them to redouble their effort to justify the confidence reposed in them.
The Navy Board on Tuesday approved the promotions of 56 naval officers to various senior ranks in the Nigerian Navy.
A breakdown of the promotion released showed that 35 captains were elevated to commodore while 21 commodores were promoted to the rank of rear admiral.
The newly-promoted rear admirals are Chibuike Azike, Ismaila Zelani, Alexandar Bingel, Kennedy Ezete, Livingstone Izu, Emmanuel Ogalla, Hamza Kaoje, Saheed Akinwande, Umar Chugali, Eugenio Ferreira, Bashir Mohammed, Mike Oamen, Ayodeji Olugbode, Abdulmajid Ibrahim, Abdullahi Ahmed, John Mamman, Peter Zakaria, Abolaji Orederu, Hamza Ibrahim, Sunday Oyegade and Saburi Lawal.
In an earlier approval, 81 commanders were promoted to the rank of captain.
The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo on behalf of officers, ratings, and civilian staff of the Nigerian Navy, rejoiced with the newly-promoted senior officers and their families and charged them to rededicate themselves to their responsibilities and remain loyal to the nation and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR.