Authorities of the Nigerian Army and Navy have approved the promotion of no fewer than 254 senior officers following the ratification by the council and the board of two services.

Specifically in the army, a total of 35 Brigadier-Generals were promoted to the rank of Major-General, while 73 Colonels were elevated to the rank of Brigadier General.

In the Navy, at least 24 Commodores were promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral, 26 Captains were elevated to the rank of Commodore while 96 Commanders were promoted to the rank of Captain.

These were disclosed in two separate statements issued by the spokesmen of the Nigerian Army and Navy, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu and Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-aliu, respectively.

Those promoted to the rank of Major General include, Brig Gen A Garba Acting Provost Marshal Nigerian Army, Brig Gen UM Alkali Deputy Chief of Administration, Directorate of Veteran Affairs (Army), Brig Gen AGL Haruna, Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division and Commander Sector 1 North East Operation HADIN KAI, Brig Gen IA Ajose Acting General Officer Commanding 8 Division and Commander Sector 2 North West Operation FANSAN YAMA, Brig General NB Ebulue Headquarters Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, Brig Gen LG Lepdung Commander Operation WHIRL STROKE, Brig Gen OA Awolo Director Military Training Nigerian Defence Academy, Brig Gen UG Ogeleka Commander Nigerian Army Space Command, Brig Gen OA Fadairo Commander 12 Brigade, Brig Gen OD Williams Commander 22 Brigade , Brig Gen JR Lar Commander 32 Brigade, Brig Gen AG Mahmuda Commandant Warrant Officer Academy, Brig Gen VD Beryo Commander Nigerian Army Special Forces School, Brig Gen AOD Okoro Director Army Headquarters Department of Special Services and Programmes, Brig Gen SO Adejimi Director Movement Army Headquarters Department of Army Logistics, Brig Gen TT Sidick Director of Finance Nigerian Defence Academy, Brig Gen MCE Ejike Commander Sector 2 Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI, Brig Gen MF Babayo Commander Sector 3 North East Joint Task Force Operation HADIN KAI, Brig Gen H Yanet Commander 51 Signal Brigade and Brig Gen MK Gara Army Headquarters Department of Training.

Also promoted to the rank of Major General are Brig Gen BP Koughna Deputy Chief of Military Affairs, Army Headquarters Department of Civil Military Affairs,Brig Gen I Otu Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, Brig Gen AO Adegbite Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport, Brig Gen IE Ekpeyong Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Engineers, Brig Gen AA Idris Army Headquarters Department of Army Standards and Evaluation, Brig Gen SA Gumel Nigerian Army Resource Centre Strategic Management and Policy Studies, Brig Gen MT Jinadu Commander 82 Division Ordnance Services, Brig Gen SA Jimoh Deputy Director Tender Board Department of Procurement, and Brig Gen UT Opuene Deputy Director Policy and Plans Defence Intelligence Agency, among others.

Officers promoted from the rank of Colonel to Brigadier General are Col SM Iliya Commander 43 Engineers Brigade, Col O Igwe Commander 78 Supply and Transport, Col NE Udofia Headquarters Nigerian Army Electrical Mechanical Engineers, Col UR Okoroji Commander 404 Engineers Brigade, Col GS Oyinwola Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary, Col S Ahmadu Defence Intelligence Agency, Col CI Nwonyi Commander 81 Division Provost Group, Col AS Aliyu Commander 1 Division Military Intelligence, Col T Garba Commander 77 Supply and Transport Brigade, Col K Imam Commander Army Headquarters Garrison Ordinance Services, Col NS Onuchukwu Chief Medical Director 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Col A Musa Commander 108 Division Equipment Support, Col DM Baba Office of the National Security Adviser, Col OA Obochi Defence Headquarters, Col PAJ Ebuk Commander 1 Division Supply and Transport, Col IP Omoke Office of the COAS Directorate of Procurement and Col P Elayo Headquarers Department of Space Administration.

Others elevated to the rank of Brigadier General are Col NI Abdullahi Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Col JC Mbanefo Army War College Nigeria, Col IO Amah Department of Operations Defence Headquarters, Col M Jimoh Defence Headquarters Garrison, Col TA Ayoola Army Headquarters Department of Army Operations, Col SA Jimoh Office of the Chief of Army Staff Department of Procurement, Col OC Ameni 103 Division Equipment Support, Col OU Okwuosa 2 Division Medical Hospital and Services, Col AO Odubiyi Armed Forces Command and Staff College, and Col NE Udofia Headquarters Nigerian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, among others.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, while congratulating the newly promoted senior officers and their families, also charged them to redouble their efforts to justify their elevation and the confidence reposed in them.

He further tasked the newly promoted officers to lead their subordinates by example and evolve “out of the box” ideas and innovations to speedily tackle contemporary security challenges bedeviling the nation.

The army chief added that they must remain committed to their oath of allegiance to defend the nation at all times and maintain unalloyed loyalty to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In the Navy, the newly promoted Rear Admirals are Ibrahim Mohammed-Katsina, Suleman Dahun, Gideon Jinjirim Kachim, Abolade Olanrele Ogunleye, Seminu Adisa Adepegba, Bob-Manuel Kokoete Effiong, Yusuf Sani Idris, Danjuma Mohammed Ndanusa, Ifeanyi Chidi Okpala, Mushin Yahaya Abba, Victor Dabess Choji, Vincent Burabari Gbaranwi, Madumom Ide, Desmond Okechukwu Igbo, Kolawale Olumide Oguntuga, Adedokun John Siyanbade, Raheem Taofeek, Kabiru Tanimu, Bai Haruna Sabo, Jonathan Ojone Ajodo, Paul Efe-Oghene, Musliu Olatokunbo Yussuff, Abiodun Alade and Samuel Innocent Ngatuwa.

The newly promoted Commodores are Mohammed Ahmed Abdullahi, Kabir Umar Rabiu, Bashir Abubakar, Olayinka Ayodele Aliu, Uche Aneke, Temitope Adeshola Bamidele, Ekuma Raphael Ekuma, Nsikan Friday, Ibrahim Ari Gwaska, Maksum Abdullahi Mohammed, Mutalib Ibikunle Raji, Murtala Aminu Rogo, Umar Saidu, Aminu Shehu, Mohammed Saghir Shettima, Jelani Umar, Olusegun Abiodun Awofe, Manga Salisu Danjuma, Mohammed Auwal Jibrilla, Adamu Mohammed Mohammed, Kelechi Kingsley Ogbonna, Makanjuola Yakub Olowu, Saidu Sulaiman, Yahaya Jaja Muhammed, Sylvester Kennedy Ogogo and Babatunde Usman Quadri.

The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla on behalf of officers, ratings and civilian staff of the Nigerian Navy, also congratulates the newly promoted senior officers and their families while charging them to rededicate themselves to their responsibilities and remain loyal to the nation.