By CHINENYE Onwusonye
The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has approved the appointment and redeployment of 65 Rear Admirals to various strategic positions within the Nigerian Navy, Defence Headquarters, and Tri-Service Institutions. The announcement, made on Thursday, 30 October 2025, marks one of the most extensive senior-level reshuffles since Vice Admiral Abbas assumed office as the 23rd indigenous Chief of the Naval Staff.
According to a statement signed by Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, Director of Information, the appointments are aimed at reinvigorating the Nigerian Navy’s leadership structure in pursuit of its constitutional mandate.
Among the key appointments, Rear Admiral Suleiman Abdullahi moves from the Defence Headquarters to Naval Headquarters (NHQ) as Chief of Logistics, while Rear Admiral Kasim Bushi takes over as Executive Director of the International Maritime Institute of Nigeria (IMION). Rear Admiral Suleiman Dahun was posted to the Defence Headquarters as Director of Defence Cooperation, and Rear Admiral Anenechukwu Ezenma assumed duty as Director of Lessons Learnt at the same headquarters.
Other notable postings include Rear Admiral Abdullahi Ahmed, who becomes Commandant of the National Defence College, and Rear Admiral Musa Katagum, now Chief of Operations at NHQ. Rear Admiral Fredrick Damtong has been appointed Chief of Naval Engineering, while Rear Admiral Abdul-Rasheed Haruna assumes office as Chief of Training.
Several officers were also assigned to key defence and maritime agencies. Rear Admiral Hamza Ibrahim was named Group Managing Director, Navy Holdings Limited (NHL); Rear Admiral Sunday Oyegade proceeds to the Defence Intelligence Agency as Director of Logistics; and Rear Admiral Gideon Kachim becomes Chief of Defence Administration.
Further appointments include Rear Admiral Olatunde Olodude as Chief of Policy and Plans, Rear Admiral Chijioke Onyemaobi as Chief of Naval Transformation, and Rear Admiral Abiodun Alade as Flag Officer Commanding, Logistics Command.
Rear Admirals Emmanuel Anakwe, Patrick Effah, Bob-Manuel Effiong, Abubakar Mustapha, and Chidozie Okehie were among those redeployed to strategic command and policy positions across the Navy’s operational, training, and research establishments.
In his message to the newly appointed officers, Vice Admiral Abbas congratulated them and urged them to rededicate themselves to duty, uphold professional excellence, and justify the confidence reposed in them by the Naval High Command.
The Nigerian Navy reiterated that the appointments form part of ongoing efforts to strengthen operational efficiency and sustain maritime security in line with national defence objectives.
