Full List: Navy Chief Makes Fresh Appointments, Reassigns Top Officers Nationwide

The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has approved a large-scale redeployment involving 65 Rear Admirals across various commands, institutions, and departments of the Nigerian Navy and the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

The move, according to the Navy, marks the first major restructuring under Abbas, who assumed office on Thursday as the 23rd indigenous Chief of the Naval Staff.

The announcement follows similar redeployments by the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Air Force last week.

A statement issued on Monday by the Director of Information, Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, said the postings affected senior officers serving at the Naval Headquarters, Defence Headquarters, Tri-Service Institutions, Naval Commands, and subsidiary organisations.

Among the newly redeployed officers, Rear Admiral Suleiman Abdullahi has been appointed Chief of Logistics at the Naval Headquarters, moving from the Defence Headquarters.

Rear Admiral Kasim Bushi was posted from the Naval Training Command to the International Maritime Institute of Nigeria as Executive Director, while Rear Admiral Suleiman Dahun becomes Director of Defence Cooperation at the Defence Headquarters.

New Appointments at Defence Headquarters and Naval Commands

Other key appointments include Rear Admiral Anenechukwu Ezenma as Director, Lessons Learnt, Rear Admiral Samuel Ngatuwa as Director of Project Management, and Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shehu, who retains his role as Admiral Superintendent of the Naval Dockyard Limited.

The statement further named Rear Admiral Abdullahi Ahmed as Commandant of the National Defence College, while Rear Admiral Musa Katagum becomes Chief of Operations at the Naval Headquarters.

“Rear Admiral Fredrick Damtong is appointed Chief of Naval Engineering at Naval Headquarters; Rear Admiral Abdul-Rasheed Haruna, formerly at Defence Headquarters, appointed Chief of Training at Naval Headquarters; Rear Admiral Hamza Ibrahim, appointed Group Managing Director, Navy Holdings Limited,” Adams-Aliu said.

He added that Rear Admiral Sunday Oyegade proceeds to the Defence Intelligence Agency as Director of Logistics, Rear Admiral Gideon Kachim becomes Chief of Defence Administration, and Rear Admiral Saburi Lawal returns to Navy Holdings Limited as Executive Director, Business Development and Evaluation.

Rear Admiral Jonathan Mamman, formerly of Defence Headquarters, has been appointed Chief of Administration at Naval Headquarters.

Other notable appointments include Rear Admiral Kehinde Odubanjo, now Director General of the Defence Research and Development Bureau, Rear Admiral John Okeke, Chief of Defence Civil-Military Cooperation, and Rear Admiral Abolade Ogunleye, Chief of Defence Training at Defence Headquarters.

The redeployment also extends to naval subsidiaries and commercial units.

“Rear Admiral Peter Zakaria was appointed Executive Director, Administration and Human Resources, Navy Holdings Limited, while Rear Admiral Olufemi Adeleke became Director of Cyber Security at the Defence Space Agency,” the statement said.

Fresh Leadership Across Naval Commands

The new postings also brought leadership changes across the Navy’s operational commands.

Rear Admiral Abiodun Alade is now Flag Officer Commanding Logistics Command, while Rear Admiral Pakiribo Anabraba takes charge as Chief of Naval Safety and Standard.

Rear Admiral Emmanuel Anakwe proceeds to the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) as Moderator, and Rear Admiral Abdul-Hamid Baba-Inna assumes office as Navy Secretary.

At the command level, Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha becomes Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Chidozie Okehie takes over as Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, and Rear Admiral Suleiman Ibrahim assumes leadership of the Central Naval Command.

Appointments in Technical and Training Units

In technical and training departments, Rear Admiral Musiu Yussuff is now Director of Marine Engineering, Rear Admiral Kolawole Oguntuga becomes Director of Manning at the Naval Headquarters, and Rear Admiral Mohammed Muye is appointed Commandant of the Naval War College.

Commodore Adams-Aliu noted that all the redeployments take immediate effect, in line with the Navy’s ongoing restructuring aimed at improving operational efficiency, professional development, and command cohesion.

He emphasised that the reshuffle reflects the Chief of the Naval Staff’s commitment to strengthening strategic leadership and ensuring the Nigerian Navy remains adaptive to emerging security challenges within and beyond the nation’s maritime domain.