President Bola Tinubu took significant action on Monday to restructure the nation’s security framework by immediately retiring all service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba. The shake-up also affected special advisers and the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service.
Major General Christopher Musa, formerly the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, replaced General Lucky Irabor as the Chief of Defence Staff, while Major General Taoreed Lagbaja succeeded Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya as the Chief of Army Staff. Air Vice Marshal H.B Abubakar assumed the role of Chief of Air Staff, replacing Air Marshal Oludayo Amao, and Rear Admiral E. A Ogalla took over from Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo as the Chief of Naval Staff.
President Buhari initially appointed Irabor, Amao, Gambo, and the late Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attahiru, on January 26, 2021. Yahaya replaced Attahiru on May 27, 2021, following his tragic death in a plane crash.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun was appointed as the acting Inspector-General of Police, and Major General EPA Undiandeye assumed the role of acting Chief of Defence Intelligence.
In addition, Nuhu Ribadu, who recently became the Security Adviser to the President, was promoted to the position of National Security Adviser, succeeding Major General Babagana Monguno (retd.), who was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in July 2015.
The President also approved several appointments within the military, including commanders and officers in the Presidential Villa.
Adeniyi Adewale was appointed as the acting Comptroller General of Customs, replacing the former CG, Hamid Ali.
The President also made new appointments for special advisers and senior assistants in various capacities.
It should be noted that the appointed service chiefs, Inspector-General of Police, and Comptroller-General of Customs will act in their positions pending confirmation in accordance with the Nigerian Constitution.
During the tenure of the former service chiefs, there was an increase in banditry, kidnapping, oil theft, and violent crimes. Between January 2021 and June 2023, a total of 15,031 people, including security operatives, lost their lives to these incidents.
Experts in security have praised the President’s appointment of the new service chiefs and Inspector-General of Police, expressing confidence that they will effectively address the country’s security challenges.
Overall, the appointment of the new security chiefs and changes in leadership have been welcomed as a positive step toward tackling insurgency and high-level criminal activities in Nigeria.