The Chief of Army Staff is the highest ranking military officer of the Nigerian Army.[1] The position is often occupied by the most senior commissioned officer appointed by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.[2] The Chief of Army Staff reports to the Chief of Defence Staff, who also reports to the Defence Minister.[3] The Statutory duty of the Officer is to formulate and execute policies towards the highest attainment of National Security and operational competence of the force.[4]
Chiefs of the Nigerian Army[]
Following is a chronological list of officers holding the position of General Officer Commanding (GOC) or Chief of Army Staff (COAS).[5]
| Officer | Title | Period Served | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maj Gen Kenneth G. Exham | 1956–1959 | Duke of Wellington's Regiment | |
| Maj Gen Foster | GOC | ||
| Maj Gen John Alexander Mackenzie | GOC | 1963 | |
| Maj Gen Sir Christopher Welby-Everard | GOC | 1963–1965 | Last British GOC |
| Maj Gen Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi | GOC | 1965–1966 | Later military ruler |
| Lt Col Yakubu Gowon FSS | COAS | January 1966 - July 1966 | Later military ruler |
| Lt Col Joseph Akahan OFR FSS | COAS | May 1967 - May 1968 | |
| Maj Gen Hassan Katsina rcds psc | COAS | May 1968 - January 1971 | |
| Maj Gen David Ejoor | COAS | January 1971 - July 1975 | |
| Lt Gen Theophilus Danjuma | COAS | July 1975 - October 1979 | |
| Lt Gen Ipoola Alani Akinrinade CFR FSS | COAS | October 1979 - April 1980 | Later Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) |
| Lt Gen Gibson Jalo CFR FSS JSS | COAS | April 1980 - October 1981 | Later Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) |
| Lt Gen Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi CFR FSS | COAS | October 1981 - October 1983 | |
| Maj Gen Ibrahim Babangida | COAS | January 1984 - August 1985 | Later military ruler |
| Lt Gen Sani Abacha GCON, DSS mni | COAS | August 1985 - August 1990 | Later military ruler |
| Lt Gen Salihu Ibrahim FSS FHWC | COAS | August 1990 - September 1993 | |
| Lt Gen Aliyu Gusau Mohammed DSS rcds | COAS | September 1993 - November 1993 | |
| Maj Gen Chris Alli CRG DSS ndc psc(+) | COAS | November 1993 - August 1994?? | |
| Maj Gen Alwali Kazir DSS Usawc psc(+) | COA | August 1994 - March 1996 | |
| Lt Gen Ishaya Bamaiyi DSS Usawc psc(+) | COAS | March 1996-May 1999 | |
| Lt Gen Victor Malu DSS mni fwc psc | COAS | May 1999 - April 2001 | |
| Lt Gen Alexander Ogomudia | COAS | April 2001 - June 2003 | Later Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). |
| Lt Gen Martin Luther Agwai | COAS | June 2003 June 2006 | Later Commander of the United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur. |
| Lt Gen Owoye Andrew Azazi | COAS | 1 June 2006 - May 2007 | Later Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). |
| Lt Gen Luka Yusuf CFR GSS GPP DSO psc(+) fwc Msc | COAS | June 2007 - August 2008 | |
| Lt Gen Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau CFR GSS psc ndc fwc(+) PhD | COAS | August 2008 - September 2010 | |
| Lt Gen Onyabor Azubuike Ihejirika CFR GSS psc(+) fwc fniqs | COAS | September 2010 - January 2014 | |
| Lt Gen Kenneth Minimah GSS psc(+) fwc | COAS | January 2014 – July 2015 | |
| Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai NAM GSS psc(+) ndc (BD) | COAS | July 2015 – |
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ "Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan sacks military chiefs". BBC News. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25759755. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
- ↑ "President sacks Service Chiefs, names replacements". Daily Independent. Archived from the original on July 10, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150710171526/http://dailyindependentnig.com/2014/01/jonathan-replaces-service-chiefs/. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
- ↑ "Minimah, Jibrin, Amosu Appointed Service Chiefs". Thisdaylive. http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/minimah-jibrin-amosu-appointed-service-chiefs/169042/. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
- ↑ "Chief of Army Staff vows military will end insurgency". Premium Times. http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/182322-chief-of-army-staff-vows-military-will-end-insurgency.html. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
- ↑ "Chronicle of Command". The Nigerian Army. http://www.nigerian-army.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=41&Itemid=44. Retrieved 2010-06-01.
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The original article can be found at Chief of Army Staff (Nigeria) and the edit history here.