President Goodluck Jonathan has approved changes in the high command of the country’s military, the Presidency said on Thursday in Abuja.
A statement from the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, said that Air Marshal Alex Badeh is now the Chief of Defence Staff.
Badeh, who is the former Chief of Air Staff, is taking over from Admiral Ola Ibrahim, while Air Vice Marshal Adesola Amosu takes over from Badeh as Chief of Air Staff.
Abati said also that Maj.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah will take over from Lt.-Gen. Azubike Ihejirika as Chief of Army Staff.
He said Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin will take over from Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba as Chief of Naval Staff.
Abati said the President directed that the changes should take immediate effect.
He said the President in making the new appointment exercised the powers conferred on him by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
“The President has briefed the leadership of the National Assembly on the new appointments,” he said. “Also, the President, in keeping with the provisions of the law, will request the National Assembly to formally confirm the appointments when it reconvenes,’’ the presidential aide said.
The Badeh, the new Chief of Defence Staff, was born on January 10, 1957. He joined the Air Force as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 21 Regular Course.
On his part, Minimah who was born on July 27, 1959 joined the Nigerian Army as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 25 Regular Course.
Until his new appointment, he was the Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps at Jaji.
Also, Jibrin was born on Sept. 16, 1959 and joined the Navy as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 24 Regular Course.
Until his appointment as Chief of Naval Staff, he was Director of Training at Defence Headquarters.
Amosu, who is the immediate-past Commander of the Presidential Air Fleet, was born on August 1, 1958.
He joined the Air Force as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 25 Regular Course.
Until his new appointment, Air Vice Marshal Amosu was the Air Officer Commanding, Tactical Air Command, Makurdi.
(NAN)
