President Muhammadu Buhari at last appointed new service chiefs on Tuesday, following unrelenting and strident calls for the sack of outgoing ones from many quarters.
The new appointees are Major-General Leo Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General I. Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral A.Z Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff; and Air-Vice Marshal I.O Amao, Chief of Air Staff.
A presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, in a statement issued on Tuesday, said the appointment followed the acceptance of immediate resignation of the former service chiefs, and their retirement from service.
Here are brief profiles of the new service chiefs:
Major General L.E.O. Irabor
Irabor hails from Agbor in Delta state and he’s a member 34 Regular Course of the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA).
He’s an alumnus of Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife as he also holds two Masters Degrees from the University of Ghana, Accra, and Bangladesh University of Professionals, Dhaka.
Before his appointment as the new CDS, Major General Irabor was Chief of Training and Operations, Defence headquarters.
The General was formerly the Theatre Commander of OPERATION LAFIYA DOLE, North-East Nigeria as well as Force Commander Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Basin Area. The operations focused on Counter-Terrorism/Counterinsurgency.
He is a distinguished awardee of several militaries, ECOMOG and United Nations Awards and Medals.
Maj Gen Ibrahim Attahiru
Major-General Ibrahim Attahiru is the new Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff who has replaced Buratai.
Before his appointment, he was in charge of the 82 Division, Nigerian Army.
Maj- Gen Attahiru replaced the present Chief of Defence Staff, Major-General Irabor as Theatre Commander of Operation Lafia Dole in the North-East in 2017.
Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao
Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao was born on 14 Sep 65 at Enugu. He hails from Oshogbo LGA of Osun State. He attended the following academic schools: Nuhu Bamali Pry School Kaduna from 1971 – 77, Command Secondary School Kakuri Kaduna from 1977 – 82, Federal College of Freshwater and Fisheries Technology (FCFFT) New Bussa from 1994 – 96, University of Madras India from 2002 – 2003, Kaduna Polytechnic from 2005 – 2006 and National Defence University China from 2012 – 2013.
He enlisted into the Nigerian Air Force on 19 Jan 1984 as a member of 35 NDA Regular Course and was commissioned as Pilot Officer on 20 Dec 86.
He was Air Component Commander of operation ZAMAN LAFIYA / LAFIYA DOLE (North East operation) and Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command (TAC).
AVM Amao is happily married to Mrs Elizabeth Olubunmi Amao and they are blessed with 3 lovely boys. His Hobbies include: reading, dancing, travelling, playing volley ball and golf as well as fish farming.
Rear Admiral A Z Gambo
Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo was born on 22 Apr 06 and hails from Nasarawa LGA in Kano State. He enlisted into the NN on 24 Sep 04 as a member of Regular Course 36 and was commissioned Sub-Lieutenant on 24 Sep 88. He is an Underwater Warfare specialist with a subspecialisation in Intelligence.
The senior officer has attended several military courses which include; Sub-Technical course and Officers Long course both at NNS QUORRA. He also attended Junior Division 470/99 and Senior Course 26 both at AFCSC Jaji. Other courses attended include the National Defence Course at the South African National Defence College.
Until his appointment as the CNS, he was the Director of Procurement at the Defence Space Administration. The senior officer holds a PGD in Transport Management and a Master’s degree in Transport Management (Logistics option) both from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology. He is also a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management, Fellow of the Certified Institute of Shipping, Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria as well as a fellow of the National Defence College, South Africa. The senior officer has been awarded the Grand Service Star, Distinguished Service Star, passed staff course among other several decorations and awards.
He is married to Hajiya Nana Aishat Gambo and the marriage is blessed with 3 children.
