Navy appoints new Flag Officers, redeploys 60 Rear Admirals in sweeping command reshufflement

 In a far-reaching reorganization aimed at improving efficiency and strengthening command structures, the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has approved the appointed of five new Flag Officers Commanding (FOCs) and redeployment of 60 Rear Admirals to new appointments across the Nigerian Navy (NN), Defence Headquarters (DHQ), and other tri-service establishments.

The large-scale postings, announced on Thursday, October 30, 2025, come barely months after Vice Admiral Abbas assumed office as the 23rd indigenous Chief of the Naval Staff, signaling what insiders describe as a renewed push to reposition the Service for optimal performance and enhanced maritime security operations.

According to the posting document, Rear Admiral Suleiman Abdullahi has been appointed Chief of Logistics at Naval Headquarters (NHQ), after his stint at the Defence Headquarters. Rear Admiral Kasim Bushi, who previously served at the Headquarters Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), now takes charge as Executive Director, International Maritime Institute of Nigeria (IMION).

Similarly, Rear Admiral Suleiman Dahun moves to the DHQ as Director, Defence Cooperation, while Rear Admiral Anenechukwu Ezenma assumes the post of Director, Lessons Learnt at the same headquarters. Also, Rear Admiral Samuel Ngatuwa has been named Director, Project Management at DHQ, and Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shehu retains his role as Admiral Superintendent, Naval Dockyard Limited.

In other key postings, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Ahmed has been appointed Commandant, National Defence College, one of the most prestigious defence institutions in the country. Rear Admiral Musa Katagum becomes Chief of Operations, while Rear Admiral Fredrick Damtong takes over as Chief of Naval Engineering at NHQ.

The CNS also approved the posting of Rear Admiral Abdul-Rasheed Haruna as Chief of Training, Rear Admiral Hamza Ibrahim as Group Managing Director, Navy Holdings Limited (NHL), and Rear Admiral Sunday Oyegade as Director of Logistics, Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

Other notable movements include Rear Admiral Gideon Kachim, who now serves as Chief of Defence Administration at DHQ, Rear Admiral Saburi Lawal, reappointed as Executive Director, Business Development and Evaluation, NHL, and Rear Admiral Jonathan Mamman, who takes over as Chief of Administration at NHQ.

Further highlighting the depth of the redeployment, Rear Admiral Kehinde Odubanjo has been appointed Director-General, Defence Research and Development Bureau (DRDB), while Rear Admiral John Okeke takes up the role of Chief of Defence Civil-Military Cooperation.

Rear Admiral Abolade Ogunleye becomes Chief of Defence Training, and Rear Admiral Olatunde Olodude, formerly of the Naval War College Nigeria (NWCN), now serves as Chief of Policy and Plans at NHQ. Rear Admiral Chijioke Onyemaobi assumes the role of Chief of Naval Transformation, and Rear Admiral Peter Zakaria has been named Executive Director, Administration and Human Resources, NHL.

Also included in the postings are Rear Admiral Olufemi Adeleke as Director of Cyber Security, Defence Space Agency (DSA), Rear Admiral Semiu Adepegba as Director of Defence Administration at DHQ, and Rear Admiral Abiodun Alade as Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Logistics Command. Rear Admiral Pakiribo Anabraba will serve as Chief of Naval Safety and Standards.

Other Senior Appointments

Among other movements, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Anakwe proceeds to the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) as Moderator, Rear Admiral Abdul-Hamid Baba-Inna takes over as Navy Secretary, while Rear Admiral Bai Haruna Sabo remains Managing Director, Naval Building and Construction Company Limited.

Rear Admiral Patrick Effah has been appointed Chief of Communications and Information Technology, Rear Admiral Bob-Manuel Effiong becomes Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Doctrine Command (NAVDOC), and Rear Admiral Suleiman Ibrahim is FOC, Central Naval Command (CNC).

Others include Rear Admiral Yusuf Idris (Director of Logistics, DSA), Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha (FOC, Western Naval Command), Rear Admiral Chidozie Okehie (FOC, Eastern Naval Command), and Rear Admiral Ifeanyi Okpala (Director of Transformation, DHQ).

Corporate and Technical Leadership

At the corporate and technical levels, Rear Admiral Haruna Zego has been appointed Managing Director, Nigerian Navy Hotels and Suites Limited, while Rear Admiral Muhsin Abba takes charge as Managing Director, Admiralty Maritime Services Limited. Rear Admiral Ebiobowei Zipele now heads the Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC) as FOC, and Rear Admiral Jonathan Ajodo has been named Chief Staff Officer, Logistics Command.

The Navy also appointed Rear Admiral Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) as Director PC4, while Rear Admiral Victor Choji, Rear Admiral Mohammed Dahiru, Rear Admiral Nnamdi Ekwom, Rear Admiral Umaru Faruk, and Rear Admiral Vincent Gbaranwi were all assigned new command and staff roles across NHQ, WNC, CNC, and ENC.

In a statement, the Chief of the Naval Staff congratulated all the newly appointed officersand urged them to remain steadfast in upholding the Navy’s core values of integrity, professionalism, and teamwork.

Vice Admiral Abbas emphasized that the redeployment exercise was carefully designed to align with his vision of a “combat-ready, professional, and people-centered Navy” capable of safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime interests and supporting joint military operations.

“The Nigerian Navy must remain adaptive, innovative, and forward-looking,” the CNS said. “These appointments are part of deliberate efforts to reposition the Service for greater effectiveness in line with national security objectives.”

The Navy Chief further enjoined the officers to justify the confidence reposed in them by delivering excellence in their respective commands and supporting the ongoing reforms across the Service.