By Ayodele Oni and Akinwale Kasali
President Bola Tinubu has retired the National Security Adviser, NSA, Babagana Monguno. In a first, the President appointed a retired Police Officer, Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Nuhu Ribadu, as the Country’s NSA. Ribadu was the pioneer Chairman of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The President had earlier, a few days ago, appointed him as his Special Adviser on Security.
Tinubu’s broom, also, swept away all Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Comptroller-General of the Customs.
He immediately appointed new Service Chiefs, IGP and a new Customs boss.
The appointments are in acting capacity pending their confirmation by the Senate.
A statement from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, signed by Willie Bassey, Director of Information, announced the new appointments on Monday, June 19, 2023.
The new appointees are:
*Mallam Nuhu Ribadu National Security Adviser
*Maj. Gen. C.G Musa Chief of Defence Staff
*Maj. T. A Lagbaja Chief of Army Staff
*Rear Admiral E. A Ogalla Chief of Naval Staff
*AVM H.B Abubakar Chief of Air Staff
*DIG Kayode Egbetokun Acting Inspector-General of Police
*Maj. Gen. EPA Undiandeye Chief of Defense Intelligence.
The statement added that:
“The president also approved the immediate retirement of Comptroller-General of Customs from Service
“The President has also approved the following appointments:
*Col. Adebisi Onasanya Brigade of Guards
*Commander; Lt. Col. Moshood Abiodun Yusuf 7 Guards Battalion, Asokoro, Abuja
*Lt. Col. Auwalu Baba Inuwa 177, Guards Battalion, Keffi, Nasarawa State.
*Lt. Col. Mohammed J. Abdulkarim 102 Guards Battalion, Suleja, Niger
*Lt. Col. Olumide A. Akingbesote 176 Guards Battalion, Gwagwalada, Abuja.
“Similarly, the President has approved the appointments of other Military Officers in the Presidential Villa as follows:
*Maj. Isa Farouk Audu (N/14695) Commanding Officer State House Artillery
*Capt. Kazeem Olalekan Sunmonu (N/16183) Second-in-Command, State House Artillery
*Maj. Kamaru Koyejo Hamzat (N/14656) Commanding Officer, State House Military Intelligence
*Maj. TS Adeola (N/12860) Commanding Officer, State House Armament.
*Lt. A. Aminu (N/18578) Second-in- Command, State House Armament
“Mr. President has also approved the appointments of two (2) additional Special Advisers, and two (2) Senior Assistants, namely:
*Hadiza Bala Usman Special Adviser, Policy Coordination.
*Hannatu Musa Musawa Special Adviser, Culture and Entertainment Economy
*Senator Abdullahi Abubakar Gumel Senior Special Assistant , National Assembly Matters (Senate)
*Hon. (Barr) Olarewaju Kunle Ibrahim Senior Special Assistant, National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives).
“Finally, the President has approved the appointment of Adeniyi Bashir Adewale as the Ag. Comptroller General of Customs.
“It is to be noted that the appointed Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police and the Comptroller General of Customs are to act in their positions, pending their confirmation in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Egbetokun, the Acting IGP, was President Tinubu’s Chief Security Officer, CSO.
