The Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari, has appointed new service chiefs. They are Major-General Leo Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General I. Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral A.Z Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff; and Air-Vice Marshal I.O Amao, Chief of Air Staff. They replace Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar who have been in office since 2015.
The identity and tenure of the service chiefs has been part of the tension in Nigeria. whether the new appointments will take care of that remains to be seen.
The official statement said the service chiefs resigned and they are leaving with commendation for “overwhelming achievements in our efforts at bringing enduring peace to our dear country”.
It will take sometime to see what has changed, with particular reference to the large scale internal insecurity and the counter-insurgency operation against Boko Haram.
