BREAKING: Boom, Tinubu Benches Service Chiefs, Advisers And Comptroller General Of Customs
The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), announced the retirement of all service chiefs, advisers, comptroller general of customs, and their replacements by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
This is a major shake-up in the security and administrative sectors of the country, as the president seeks to consolidate his power and implement his agenda.
According to the press release issued by the SGF on June 19, 2023, the president, Ahmed Bola Tinubu 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:
Mallam Nuhu Ribadu – National Security Adviser
Maj. Gen. C.G Musa – Chief of Defence Staff
Maj. T. A Lagbaja – Chief of Army Staff
Rear Admiral E. A Ogalla – Chief of Naval Staff
AVM H.B Abubakar – Chief of Air Staff
DIG Kayode Egbetokun – Acting Inspector-General of Police
Maj. Gen. EPA Undiandeye – Chief of Defense Intelligence
President Tinubu has also made additional appointments as follows:
Col. Adebisi Onasanya – Brigade of Guards Commander
Lt. Col. Moshood Abiodun Yusuf – 7 Guards Battalion, Asokoro, Abuja
Lt. Col. Auwalu Baba Inuwa – 177 Guards Battalion, Keffi, Nasarawa State
Lt. Col. Mohammed J. Abdulkarim – 102 Guards Battalion, Suleja, Niger
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:
Maj. Isa Farouk Audu – Commanding Officer, State House Artillery
Capt. Kazeem Olalekan Sunmonu – Second-in-Command, State House Artillery
Maj. Kamaru Koyejo Hamzat – Commanding Officer, State House Military Intelligence
Maj. TS Adeola – Commanding Officer, State House Armament
Lt. A. Aminu – Second-in-Command, State House Armament
President Tinubu has also appointed two additional Special Advisers and two Senior Assistants:
Hadiza Bala Usman – Special Adviser, Policy Coordination
Hannatu Musa Musawa – Special Adviser, Culture and Entertainment Economy
Sen. Abdullahi Abubakar Gumel – Senior Special Assistant, National Assembly Matters (Senate)
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.
However, the retirement and appointment of new service chiefs and other key officers are seen as a strategic move by President Tinubu to reposition the security architecture of the country and address the challenges of insecurity, terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and secessionist agitations. It is also seen as a way of rewarding his loyalists and allies who supported his presidential bid in 2023.
Though some analysts have expressed that the new appointments may not reflect regional balance and diversity, and may create resentment among some sections of the country while some believed strongly that the new security team will bring fresh ideas and innovations to tackle the security problems facing the country and the President is trending on the right part but which ever way, it will surely bring better security, economic boost and peaceful cohabitation in the nation.