In an exciting development, the Nigerian Navy has recently carried out a reshuffling of senior officer appointments, bringing about positive changes within its ranks.

The reassignment, which took place on June 27, 2023 involving the repositioning of 56 Rear Admirals and a Commodore aims to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and overall performance within the Nigerian Navy.

Rear Admiral Olusanya Bankole, previously serving as the Director of Logistics at the Defence Space Administration, has been appointed as the Chief of Communications and Information Technology at Naval Headquarters. Rear Admiral Alexander Bingel, formerly the Director of Combat Policy and Tactics, now assumes the role of Director of Logistics at the Defence Headquarters.

Rear Admiral Ibrahim Dewu, who previously served as the Director of Project Implementation and Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate at Naval Headquarters, now takes on the crucial position of Chief of Defence Civil Military Cooperation at Defence Headquarters. Rear Admiral Kennedy Ezete, formerly the Director of Project Monitoring at Defence Headquarters, has assumed the role of Chief of Administration at Naval Headquarters.

Also, Rear Admiral Livingstone Izu, who previously held the position of Director of Manning at Naval Headquarters, has been appointed as the new Chief of Logistics at Naval Headquarters. Rear Admiral Musa Madugu, previously the Deputy Director of Special Operation Forces at the Defence Headquarters, has been selected as the Admiral Superintendent of the Naval Ordinance Depot.

Rear Admiral Daupreye Matthew, formerly the Director of Innovation and Concept Development at Naval Headquarters, has taken on the role of Director of Training at Defence Headquarters. Rear Admiral Zakariya Muhammad, the former Director of Training at Naval Headquarters, has been reappointed as Chief of Training and Operations.

Rear Admiral Emmanuel Nmoyem has been reappointed as the Director of Human Rights Desks at the Defence Headquarters, contributing to the Navy’s commitment to upholding human rights. Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shettima, previously the Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command, has moved to Defence Headquarters to serve as the Director of Plans.

Furthermore, Rear Admiral Monday Unurhiere, the former Director of Plans at Naval Headquarters, has been appointed as the Chief of Defence Administration at Defence Headquarters. Rear Admiral Hamza Kaoje, previously serving as the Director of Equipment Standardization and Harmonization at Defence Headquarters, has taken on the significant role of Group Managing Director at Navy Holdings Limited.

In another notable change, Rear Admiral Sulaiman El-ladan, formerly the Chief of Naval Engineering at Naval Headquarters, has assumed the role of Director of Marine Research at the Defence Research and Development Bureau at Defence Headquarters. Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, previously the Director of Operations at Naval Headquarters, has been reappointed as the Chief of Naval Safety and Standards.

Rear Admiral Mohammed Abdullahi, the immediate past Director of Communications at Naval Headquarters, has taken over as the Flag Officer Commanding of the Western Naval Command. Rear Admiral Saheed Akinwande, formerly the Commandant of the Naval War College Nigeria, has been appointed as the Director of Operations at Naval Headquarters.

Rear Admiral Istifanus Albara, the former Head of the ECOWAS Maritime Security Coordination Centre in Abidjan, has moved to Naval Headquarters as the Navy Secretary. Rear Admiral Clement Atebi has been reappointed to Naval Headquarters as the Director of Audit, ensuring transparency and accountability within the Nigerian Navy.

Rear Admiral Samson Bura, formerly the Director of Search and Rescue at Defence Headquarters, has taken on the important role of Director of Logistics at the Defence Intelligence Agency. Rear Admiral Umar Chugali, previously the Director of Cyber at the Defence Space Administration, now assumes the position of Flag Officer Commanding at the Central Naval Command.

Rear Admiral Oluwole Fadeyi has been reappointed as the Director of Record Returns and Analysis at Naval Headquarters, while Rear Admiral Olusola Oluwagbire has been reappointed as the Flag Officer Commanding of the Eastern Naval Command.

These new appointments also include Rear Admiral Eugenio Ferreira, who has been reappointed as the Commander of Operation DELTA SAFE, and Rear Admiral Mustapha Hassan, formerly the Director of Policy at Naval Headquarters, who has been redeployed as the Commandant of the Naval War College Nigeria.

Rear Admiral Baratuaipri Iyalla, previously serving as the Chief Staff Officer of the Logistics Command, has been reappointed as the Flag Officer Commanding of the Logistics Command in Oghara. Rear Admiral Kohath Levi, formerly the Chief Staff Officer of the Naval Doctrine Command, has been appointed as the Chief of Naval Engineering at Naval Headquarters.

Moreover, Rear Admiral Bashir Mohammed, formerly the Chief of Logistics at Naval Headquarters, has now taken on the position of Director of Project Monitoring at Defence Headquarters. Rear Admiral Julius Nwagu, previously the Director of Campaign Planning at Naval Headquarters, has been appointed as the Commandant of the Defence Intelligence College.

Other notable appointments include Rear Admiral Patrick Nwatu, who has been reappointed as the Flag Officer Commanding of the Naval Training Command, and Rear Admiral Mike Oamen, formerly the Director of Veterans Affairs at Naval Headquarters, who has become the Chief of Naval Transformation at Naval Headquarters.

Rear Admiral James Okosun has been reappointed as the Commandant of the Nigerian Navy Engineering College in Sapele, and Rear Admiral Ayodeji Olugbode, previously the Managing Director of Admiralty Maritime Services Limited, has taken over as the Hydrographer of the Nigerian Navy.

Rear Admiral Abolaji Orederu, formerly the Director of Ships Design and Acquisition at Naval Headquarters, has been appointed as the Admiral Superintendent of the Naval Dockyard Limited in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The reshuffling has also seen Rear Admiral Habilla Zakaria, the immediate past Commander of Naval Drafting, assuming the role of Flag Officer Commanding at the Headquarters Naval Doctrine Command. Rear Admiral Suleiman Abdullahi, formerly the Managing Director of Navy Exchange Limited, has become the Director of Logistics at the Defence Space Administration at Defence Headquarters.

Rear Admiral Kasimu Bushi, the former Chief of Accounts and Budget at Naval Headquarters, has been appointed as the Managing Director of Navy Hotels and Suites Limited. Rear Admiral Joseph Akpan, the immediate past Flag Officer Commanding of the Western Naval Command, has resumed duty at Naval Headquarters as the Chief of Policy and Plans.

Rear Admiral Abdulmajid Ibrahim, previously the Director of Peacekeeping Operations at Naval Headquarters, has taken on the role of Director of Defence Transformation at Defence Headquarters. Rear Admiral Olumuyiwa Olotu, the former Flag Officer Commanding of the Logistics Command, has assumed the position of Commandant of the National Defence College in Abuja.

Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shehu, formerly the Director of Marine Engineering at Naval Headquarters, has been appointed as the Managing Director of Navy Building and Construction Company Limited. Rear Admiral Abdullahi Ahmed, previously the Director of Recruitment, Resettlement, and Reserve at Naval Headquarters, has become the Deputy Chief of Defence Space Administration at Defence Headquarters.

Rear Admiral Fredrick Damtong, formerly the Director of Weapon Engineering at Naval Headquarters, has resumed duty as the Admiral Superintendent of Naval Shipyard Limited. Rear Admiral Abdul-rasheed Haruna has been reappointed as the Chief Staff Officer at Headquarters Eastern Naval Command, and Rear Admiral Hamza Ibrahim, previously the Admiral Superintendent of the Naval Dockyard Limited, has been appointed as the Managing Director of Admiralty Marine Services Limited.

Rear Admiral Sunday Oyegade, the outgoing Admiral Superintendent of Naval Shipyard Limited, has assumed the role of Director of Project Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation at Naval Headquarters. Rear Admirals John Mamman and John Okeke have been reappointed as Chief Staff Officers at Headquarters Western Naval Command and Headquarters Central Naval Command, respectively.

Rear Admiral Olatunde Olodude, the former Fleet Commander of the Western Fleet, has returned to Naval Headquarters as the Director of Plans.
Furthermore, Commodore Omotola Olukoya, previously the Commander of the Central Pay Office, has been appointed as the new Chief of Accounts and Budget at Naval Headquarters.

These changes within the Nigerian Navy aim to optimize the expertise and leadership capabilities of senior officers, leading to improved operations, increased efficiency, and a stronger and more effective naval force.

The Nigerian Navy is committed to ensuring the safety, security, and prosperity of Nigeria and its waters, and these appointments mark a positive step forward in achieving those goals.