Tinubu appoints new service chiefs, flushes out old hands

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has retired all service chiefs, advisers, comptroller general of customs and replaced them with fresh hands.

The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), announced the retirement on Monday in a statement released to the media.

Analysts see this as a major step as the president seeks to consolidate his power and implement his agenda.

According to the press release, the president has approved the immediate retirement of all service chiefs and the inspector-general of police, advisers, and comptroller-general of customs from service as well as their replacements with immediate effect.

The newly appointed officers are:

The newly appointed officers are as follows:

1. Mallam Nuhu Ribadu – National Security Adviser
2. Maj. Gen. C.G Musa – Chief of Defence Staff
3. Maj. T. A Lagbaja – Chief of Army Staff
4. Rear Admiral E. A Ogalla – Chief of Naval Staff
5. AVM H.B Abubakar – Chief of Air Staff
6. DIG Kayode Egbetokun – Acting Inspector-General of Police
7. Maj. Gen. EPA Undiandeye – Chief of Defense Intelligence

President Tinubu has also made additional appointments as follows:

1. Col. Adebisi Onasanya – Brigade of Guards Commander
2. Lt. Col. Moshood Abiodun Yusuf – 7 Guards Battalion, Asokoro, Abuja
3. Lt. Col. Auwalu Baba Inuwa – 177 Guards Battalion, Keffi, Nasarawa State
4. Lt. Col. Mohammed J. Abdulkarim – 102 Guards Battalion, Suleja, Niger
5. Lt. Col. Olumide A. Akingbesote – 176 Guards Battalion, Gwagwalada, Abuja

Furthermore, the President has approved the appointments of other military officers within the Presidential Villa:

1. Maj. Isa Farouk Audu – Commanding Officer, State House Artillery
2. Capt. Kazeem Olalekan Sunmonu – Second-in-Command, State House Artillery
3. Maj. Kamaru Koyejo Hamzat – Commanding Officer, State House Military Intelligence
4. Maj. TS Adeola – Commanding Officer, State House Armament
5. Lt. A. Aminu – Second-in-Command, State House Armament

President Tinubu has also appointed two additional Special Advisers and two Senior Assistants:

1. Hadiza Bala Usman – Special Adviser, Policy Coordination
2. Hannatu Musa Musawa – Special Adviser, Culture and Entertainment Economy
3. Sen. Abdullahi Abubakar Gumel – Senior Special Assistant, National Assembly Matters (Senate)
4. Hon. (Barr) Olarewaju Kunle Ibrahim – Senior Special Assistant, National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives)

Additionally, the President has approved the appointment of Adeniyi Bashir Adewale as the Acting Comptroller General of Customs.

It should be noted that the appointed Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Comptroller General of Customs will act in their positions pending their confirmation in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

These appointments and retirements mark a significant change in the leadership and strategic positions within the Nigerian government and its security apparatus.

The SGF stated that the president thanked the outgoing officers for their patriotic service to the nation and wished them well in their future endeavours. He also congratulated the newly appointed officers and urged them to be loyal and dedicated to their duties.