In a bid to enhance operational effectiveness and efficiency, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced the redeployment of 98 officers of air rank. The redeployment was approved by the Chief of Air Staff, AVM Hassan Abubakar, following the recent change of guard in the NAF.
Disclosing this in a statement on Monday in Abuja, the NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Ayodele Famuyiwa, revealed that the redeployment affected branch chiefs, Air Officers Commanding (AOCs), Commandants of Tri-Service Establishments, and NAF institutions.
The newly appointed senior officers comprise 52 Air Vice Marshals (AVMs) and 46 Air Commodores, several of whom have assumed critical leadership roles within the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) and other strategic units. For instance, the former Commandant Air Force War College, AVM Abraham Adole, has been appointed as the Chief of Defence Policy and Plans (CDPP) at the DHQ.
Furthermore, AVM Nkem Aguiyi has assumed office as the Chief of Defence Transformation and Innovation (CDTI), while AVM Ahmed Shinkafi has been appointed as the Chief of Defence Space Administration (CDSA).
At the Headquarters Nigerian Air Force (HQ NAF), changes were also made to key leadership positions. AVM Sayo Olatunde, who previously served as the Air Officer Commanding Ground Training Command (AOC GTC), has been appointed as the Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP). AVM Ibikunle Daramola has retained his role as the Chief of Communications Information Systems (CCIS).
Other notable appointments include AVM Pius Oahimire as the Chief of Aircraft Engineering (CAcE), AVM Uchechi Nwagwu as the Chief of Accounts and Budget (CAB), AVM Abubakar Abdulkadir as the Chief of Training and Operations (CTOP), and AVM Dominic Danat as the Chief of Logistics (CLOG).
The NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Ayodele Famuyiwa, further disclosed that AVM Ahmed Bakari has been appointed as the Air Secretary, AVM Michael Onyebashi as the Chief of Standards and Evaluation (COSE), AVM Idi Sani as the Chief of Administration (COA), AVM Anthony Ekpe as the Chief of Medical Services (CMS), and Air Commodore Friday Ogohi as the Chief of Air Intelligence (CAI) at HQ NAF.
Also part of the shake-up are the appointment of commandants to various institutions. AVM Adeniyi Amesinlola has been appointed as the head of the Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (AFRC) in Oshodi, AVM Hassan Alhaji now heads the prestigious Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC) in Jaji, and AVM Sani Rabe becomes the head of the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) in Kaduna.
Furthermore, AVM Adebayo Kehinde has taken over the command of the Air Force War College in Makurdi, while AVM Esen Efanga assumes the role of Commandant Air Warfare Centre in Abuja.
The redeployment exercise also affected other critical roles such as AVM Francis Edosa as the Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command (AOC TAC) in Makurdi, AVM Tajudeen Yusuf as the Air Officer Commanding Mobility Command (AOC MC) in Yenagoa, and AVM Nnamdi Ananaba as the Air Officer Commanding Air Training Command (AOC ATC) in Kaduna, among others.
Furthermore, AVM Kabir Umar has been appointed as the Group Managing Director of NAF Investments Limited Group of Companies, AVM Sunday Aneke as the Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna, and AVM Titus Dauda as the College Secretary of the National Defence College (NDC).
Lastly, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet retains his appointment as the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force.
The newly appointed officers are expected to assume their new positions not later than Monday, July 3.
NAN
