The Nigerian Navy has announced the redeployment of 65 Rear Admirals across various departments, training institutions, and commands, as part of an extensive leadership reshuffle approved by the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Director of Naval Information, Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, said the move was aimed at enhancing operational performance, promoting professionalism, and aligning the service structure with the Navy’s evolving strategic priorities.
The large-scale posting affects officers serving in the Naval Headquarters, Defence Headquarters, Tri-Service Institutions, Naval Commands, and other strategic units within the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
The redeployment follows the assumption of office by Vice Admiral Abbas as the 23rd indigenous Chief of the Naval Staff, continuing a wave of command changes across the military. The Nigerian Army and Nigerian Air Force had similarly carried out internal restructuring earlier in the week.
According to the statement, Rear Admiral Suleiman Abdullahi moves from the Defence Headquarters to the Naval Headquarters as Chief of Logistics, while Rear Admiral Kasim Bushi has been posted from the Naval Training Command to the International Maritime Institute of Nigeria as Executive Director.
Rear Admiral Suleiman Dahun was named Director of Defence Cooperation at the Defence Headquarters, while Rear Admiral Anenechukwu Ezenma takes over as Director, Lessons Learnt. Rear Admiral Samuel Ngatuwa becomes Director of Project Management, and Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shehu continues as Admiral Superintendent, Naval Dockyard Limited.
Other major appointments include Rear Admiral Abdullahi Ahmed, who becomes Commandant of the National Defence College, and Rear Admiral Musa Katagum, who has been reassigned from the Defence Headquarters to serve as Chief of Operations at the Naval Headquarters.
Similarly, Rear Admiral Fredrick Damtong now serves as Chief of Naval Engineering, Rear Admiral Abdul-Rasheed Haruna as Chief of Training, and Rear Admiral Hamza Ibrahim has been appointed Group Managing Director of Navy Holdings Limited.
The list also features Rear Admiral Sunday Oyegade, who proceeds to the Defence Intelligence Agency as Director of Logistics, and Rear Admiral Gideon Kachim, who will now serve as Chief of Defence Administration.
In addition, Rear Admiral Saburi Lawal was reappointed Executive Director, Business Development and Evaluation at Navy Holdings Limited, while Rear Admiral Jonathan Mamman was posted to the Naval Headquarters as Chief of Administration.
Other key changes include Rear Admiral Kehinde Odubanjo as Director General, 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 the operational level, Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha is now Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command; Rear Admiral Chidozie Okehie heads the Eastern Naval Command; and Rear Admiral Suleiman Ibrahim takes over the Central Naval Command.
The Navy said the new appointments are part of ongoing reforms designed to improve discipline, efficiency, and accountability across all formations.
