ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, has made sweeping changes to the nation’s security apparatus by sacking the Chief of Defence Staff, all Service Chiefs, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Baba Alkali, and the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali.
The announcement was made by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume, through a statement issued on Monday, June 19, 2023, in Abuja.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has approved the immediate retirement of all Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, Advisers, Comptroller-General of Customs from Service as well as their replacements with immediate effect”, the SGF stated in the announcement.
In a significant reshuffle, President Tinubu appointed Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as National Security Adviser; Maj. Gen. C.G Musa as Chief of Defence Staff; Maj. Gen. T.A Lagbaja as Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral E.A Ogalla as Chief of Naval Staff; AVM H.B Abubakar as Chief of Air Staff; DIG Kayode Egbetokun as Acting Inspector-General of Police; and Maj. Gen. EPA Undiandeye as Chief of Defence Intelligence.
The President also made appointments in the Presidential Villa and Brigade of Guards including Col. Adebisi Onasanya, Lt. Col. Moshood Abiodun Yusuf, Lt. Col. Auwalu Baba Inuwa, Lt. Col. Mohammed J. Abdulkarim, and Lt. Col. Olumide A. Akingbesote.
Additionally, Maj. Isa Farouk Audu, Capt. Kazeem Olalekan Sunmonu, Maj. Kamaru Koyejo Hamzat, Maj. T.S Adeola, and Lt. A. Aminu have been appointed as Military Officers in the Presidential Villa.
In addition to the security appointments, President Tinubu also approved the appointments of two Special Advisers and two Senior Assistants.
Hadiza Bala Usman has been appointed as Special Adviser for Policy Coordination; Hannatu Musa Musawa as Special Adviser for Culture and Entertainment Economy; Sen. Abdullahi Abubakar Gumel as Senior Special Assistant for National Assembly Matters (Senate); and Hon. (Barr) Olarewaju Kunle Ibrahim as Senior Special Assistant for National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives).
Furthermore, Adeniyi Bashir Adewale has been appointed as the Acting Comptroller General of Customs.
SGF Akume noted that the appointed Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Comptroller General of Customs will serve in an acting capacity until their positions are confirmed in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
This major overhaul by President Bola Tinubu signifies a decisive step in restructuring Nigeria’s security architecture amid the challenges facing the country.
