New Service Chiefs
What Should Nigerians Expect?
The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd), on Tuesday 26th Jan, 2021, approved the resignation of Abayomi Olanisakin, Sadique Abubakar, Ibok Ekwe Ibas and Tukur Buratai as Service Chiefs. This move may not be unconnected with calls and agitations for change in guard, to stem the security challenges in the country.
As tradition demands, the President immediately appointed Maj Gen LEO Irabor, CDS, Maj Gen I Attahiru, Army, Rear Adm AZ Gambo, Navy, AVM IO Amao, Air Force in those capacities. We have compiled a little background to these new men as Nigerians anticipate.
Chief of Defence Staff
Maj. Gen Leo Irabor is the new Chief of Defence Staff and a member of the Regular Course 39 of the Nigeria Defence Academy, NDA.Irabor, a trained engineer, was the Commander of Army’s Training and Doctrine Command, TRADOC, with headquarters in Minna, Niger State. He was born on October 5, 1965 and hails from Ika South of Delta State.He also served as the Chief of Training and Operations (CTOP) Defence Headquarters. Irabor became popular with his onslaught against the Boko Haram where he served as the theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole and head, MultiNational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) as the Field Commander.
Chief of Army Staff
Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, the new Chief of Army Staff replaced retired Gen. Tukur Buratai. He was born on August 10, 1966 and hails from Kaduna State. Before his appointment, Attahiru was the head of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army.In May 2017, the new COAS was appointed to lead the war against Boko Haram in the Northeast but was later replaced with General Nicholas Rogers.Attahiru was redeployed by the then Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai after giving him a deadline in July to deliver Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau dead or alive.
The Chief of Naval Staff
Rear Admiral A.Z Gambo prior to his appointment was the Director of Procurement at the Defence Space Administration. Gambo was born on April 22, 1966 and hails from Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano State. The new Chief of Naval Staff got enlisted into the Nigerian Navy on September 24, 1984 as a member of Regular Course 36 and was commissioned Sub-Lieutenant on September 24, 1988.Gambo is an underwater Warfare specialist with a sub-specialization in Intelligence.
Chief of Air Staff
Until his appointment as Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Amao was the Commandant Armed Forces Resettlement Centre in Lagos State. Amao was born on 14th September 1965 at Enugu but hails from Osogbo Local Government Area of Osun State. He was enlisted into the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, on January 19, 1984 as a member of the 35 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy.Amao previously served as Trainee/Squadron Pilot, NAF Unit 99 ACTG Kainji (1993-2004), Instructor Pilot/Squadron Pilot, 301 FTS Kaduna (2004-2007), Air Assistance to Chief of Air Staff, Deputy Defence Adviser, Nigerian High Commission London, Assistant Director of Operation Defence Headquarters, Director of Policy and Plans, Nigerian Air Force.
