In a sweeping reorganization of its top leadership, the Nigerian Navy has approved the redeployment of 65 Rear Admirals across key commands, institutions, and departments in a move aimed at strengthening operational efficiency and strategic alignment.
The large-scale posting was approved by the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, and announced on Monday in a statement by the Director of Information, Commodore A. Adams-Aliu.
According to Hobnob News, the new postings affect officers serving at the Naval Headquarters, Defence Headquarters, tri-service institutions, naval commands, and commercial subsidiaries of the Nigerian Navy.
The redeployments come shortly after Vice Admiral Abbas assumed office as the 23rd indigenous Chief of the Naval Staff, following President Bola Tinubu’s recent overhaul of the military hierarchy, which saw new appointments across the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Highlights of Key Redeployments
Among the notable changes:
Rear Admiral Suleiman Abdullahi moves from the Defence Headquarters to the Naval Headquarters as Chief of Logistics.
Rear Admiral Kasim Bushi is now Executive Director, International Maritime Institute of Nigeria.
Rear Admiral Suleiman Dahun becomes Director of Defence Cooperation, Defence Headquarters.
Rear Admiral Anenechukwu Ezenma assumes the role of Director, Lessons Learnt, at Defence Headquarters.
Rear Admiral Samuel Ngatuwa has been appointed Director of Project Management, while Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shehu retains his post as Admiral Superintendent, Naval Dockyard Limited.
The statement also confirmed the appointment of Rear Admiral Abdullahi Ahmed as Commandant, National Defence College, and Rear Admiral Musa Katagum as Chief of Operations at the Naval Headquarters.
Other key appointments include:
Rear Admiral Fredrick Damtong – Chief of Naval Engineering
Rear Admiral Abdul-Rasheed Haruna – Chief of Training
Rear Admiral Hamza Ibrahim – Group Managing Director, Navy Holdings Limited
Rear Admiral Sunday Oyegade – Director of Logistics, Defence Intelligence Agency
Rear Admiral Gideon Kachim – Chief of Defence Administration
Rear Admiral Saburi Lawal – Executive Director, Business Development & Evaluation, Navy Holdings Limited
Rear Admiral Jonathan Mamman – Chief of Administration, Naval Headquarters
Strategic and Institutional Appointments
Commodore Adams-Aliu further announced new leadership in strategic institutions and subsidiaries:
Rear Admiral Kehinde Odubanjo – Director General, Defence Research and Development Bureau
Rear Admiral John Okeke – Chief of Defence Civil-Military Cooperation
Rear Admiral Abolade Ogunleye – Chief of Defence Training
Rear Admiral Peter Zakaria – Executive Director, Administration & Human Resources, Navy Holdings Limited
Rear Admiral Olufemi Adeleke – Director of Cyber Security, Defence Space Agency
In addition, Rear Admiral Abiodun Alade is now the Flag Officer Commanding Logistics Command, while Rear Admiral Pakiribo Anabraba becomes Chief of Naval Safety and Standards. Rear Admiral Emmanuel Anakwe proceeds to the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) as Moderator, and Rear Admiral Abdul-Hamid Baba-Inna assumes duty as Navy Secretary.
New Command Appointments
The new Flag Officers Commanding (FOCs) are as follows:
Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha – Western Naval Command
Rear Admiral Chidozie Okehie – Eastern Naval Command
Rear Admiral Suleiman Ibrahim – Central Naval Command
Also appointed are:
Rear Admiral Musiu Yussuff – Director of Marine Engineering
Rear Admiral Kolawole Oguntuga – Director of Manning, Naval Headquarters
Rear Admiral Mohammed Muye – Commandant, Naval War College
Commodore Adams-Aliu confirmed that all postings take immediate effect, reflecting the Navy’s ongoing efforts to reinforce leadership and enhance maritime security operations across Nigeria’s waters.
