The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has approved the appointment and redeployment of 65 Rear Admirals across various commands, formations, and tri-service institutions in what has been described as one of the most significant leadership reshuffles in the Nigerian Navy (NN) in recent years.
The large-scale redeployment, announced on Thursday, October 30, 2025, underscores the Navy’s renewed commitment to enhancing operational effectiveness, professional excellence, and strategic command capacity following Vice Admiral Abbas’s assumption of office as the 23rd indigenous Chief of the Naval Staff.
According to a statement issued by Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, Director of Naval Information, the appointments cut across key operational, administrative, and training portfolios, reflecting a deliberate effort to inject new energy into the Service’s command structure.
At the Naval Headquarters (NHQ), Rear Admiral Suleiman Abdullahi, formerly at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), has been appointed Chief of Logistics, while Rear Admiral Musa Katagum, who was at DHQ, is now Chief of Operations. Rear Admiral Fredrick Damtong becomes Chief of Naval Engineering, Rear Admiral Abdul-Rasheed Haruna takes over as Chief of Training, and Rear Admiral Jonathan Mamman is now Chief of Administration.
Other key appointments at the NHQ include Rear Admiral Olatunde Olodude as Chief of Policy and Plans, Rear Admiral Chijioke Onyemaobi as Chief of Naval Transformation, and Rear Admiral Pakiribo Anabraba as Chief of Naval Safety and Standards.
In the logistics and support structure, Rear Admiral Abiodun Alade has been named Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Logistics Command, while Rear Admiral Abdul-Hamid Baba-Inna assumes duty as Navy Secretary. Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shehu retains his position as Admiral Superintendent, Naval Dockyard Limited, and Rear Admiral Bai Haruna Sabo remains Managing Director, Naval Building and Construction Company Limited.
The new posting also affects the Navy’s training and academic institutions. Rear Admiral Abdullahi Ahmed has been appointed Commandant, National Defence College, while Rear Admiral Mohammed Muye becomes Commandant, Naval War College Nigeria (NWCN). Similarly, Rear Admiral Kasim Bushi will now serve as Executive Director, International Maritime Institute of Nigeria (IMION).
Other notable redeployments include Rear Admiral Suleiman Dahun, appointed Director of Defence Cooperation at DHQ; Rear Admiral Anenechukwu Ezenma, now Director of Lessons Learnt at DHQ; and Rear Admiral Samuel Ngatuwa, appointed Director of Project Management at DHQ.
In the defence establishment, Rear Admiral Gideon Kachim becomes Chief of Defence Administration, Rear Admiral John Okeke assumes the role of Chief of Defence Civil-Military Cooperation, while Rear Admiral Abolade Ogunleye has been appointed Chief of Defence Training. Rear Admiral Semiu Adepegba will serve as Director of Defence Administration, and Rear Admiral Kabiru Tanimu takes on the role of Director, Special Operation Forces.
The reshuffle also extends to the Navy’s operational commands, where several Rear Admirals have been named new Flag Officers Commanding. Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha is the new FOC, Western Naval Command (WNC); Rear Admiral Chidozie Okehie takes charge of the Eastern Naval Command (ENC); Rear Admiral Suleiman Ibrahim becomes FOC, Central Naval Command (CNC); and Rear Admiral Ebiobowei Zipele assumes command of the Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC).
In related postings, Rear Admiral Bob-Manuel Effiong has been appointed FOC, Naval Doctrine Command (NAVDOC), while Rear Admiral Patrick Effah becomes Chief of Communications and Information Technology. Rear Admiral Olufemi Adeleke will move to the Defence Space Agency (DSA) as Director of Cyber Security, and Rear Admiral Yusuf Idris will also join the DSA as Director of Logistics.
Several officers have also been appointed to key corporate and technical positions. Rear Admiral Hamza Ibrahim takes over as Group Managing Director, Navy Holdings Limited (NHL), with Rear Admiral Saburi Lawal reappointed as Executive Director, Business Development and Evaluation at the same establishment. Rear Admiral Peter Zakaria becomes Executive Director, Administration and Human Resource, NHL, while Rear Admiral Muhsin Abba is the new Managing Director, Admiralty Maritime Services Limited. Rear Admiral Haruna Zego has been appointed Managing Director, Nigerian Navy Hotels and Suites Limited, and Rear Admiral Umaru Faruk will serve as Managing Director, Naval Engineering Services Limited.
Others on the list include Rear Admiral Emmanuel Anakwe, who will proceed to the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) as a Moderator; Rear Admiral Etop Ebe, who moves to the Defence Research and Development Bureau (DRDB) as Director of Marine Research; and Rear Admiral Kehinde Odubanjo, who becomes Director-General of DRDB.
Also redeployed are Rear Admiral Raheem Taofeek as Director, Veteran Affairs, Rear Admiral Desmond Igbo as Chief Staff Officer, Naval Doctrine Command, and Rear Admiral Paul Efe-Oghene as Director, Development and Production at DRDB.
While congratulating the newly appointed officers, Vice Admiral Abbas charged them to rededicate themselves to duty and justify the confidence reposed in them, stressing that the latest postings were aimed at consolidating the Navy’s operational readiness and promoting professionalism.
The Chief of Naval Staff further emphasized that the appointments were strategic, reflecting the Service’s ongoing transformation under his leadership to enhance efficiency, discipline, and the protection of Nigeria’s maritime domain.
Commodore Adams-Aliu, who signed the statement, urged the media to disseminate the information to the public, noting that the redeployments mark “a new phase of dynamic leadership realignment in the Nigerian Navy aimed at ensuring optimal performance across all commands.”
