The Military Top Brass From Inception To Date

Armed Forces Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of the armed forces who died in the line of duty. This day, or alternative date, is also recognized as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth countries.

Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November to recall the end of hostilities of World War I in 1918. Hostilities formally ended “at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month,” in accordance with the Armistice, signed by representatives of Germany and the Entente between 5:12 and 5:20 that morning. (“At the 11th hour” refers to the passing of the 11th hour, or 11:00 a.m.) World War I officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on 28 June 1919.

According to Wikipedia, the day was specifically dedicated by King George V on November 7, 1919 as a day of remembrance for members of the armed forces who were killed during World War I. In Nigeria, it is 15 January that is regarded as the Armed Forces Remembrance Day to commemorate the end of the civil war when Biafran soldiers surrendered to the Nigerian soldiers after the three years of hostility.

Defence Focus revisits history to recall those service chiefs that have been in charge of the Nigerian military to date.

Nigerian Service Chiefs To Date:

Chiefs of Defence Staff
Gen.Alani Akinrinade  - 1980-1981
Gen. G.S. Jalo - 1982-1984
General Domkat Bali  - 1984-1990
General Sani Abacha  - 1990-1993
Lt. General Oladipo Diya - 1993
Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar 1993-1998
Air Marshal Al-Amin M. Daggash  - 1998-1999
Admiral Ibrahim Ogohi  1999-2003
General Alexander Ogomudia 2003-2006
General Martin Luther Agwai  2006-2007
General Owoye Andrew Azazi  2007-2008
Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike 2008-2010
Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin 2010-2012
Vice Admiral Ola Ibrahim  2012 to date

Chiefs of Army Staff
Maj Gen Kenneth G. Exham1956–1959 (Duke of Wellington’s Regiment)
Maj Gen Foster (GOC)
Maj Gen John Alexander Mackenzie (GOC,1963)
Maj Gen Sir Christopher Welby-Everard-(1963–1965, Last British GOC)
Maj Gen Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi (GOC1965–1966)
Lt Col Yakubu Gowon (January 1966 - July 1966)
Lt Col Joseph Akahan (May 1967 - May 1968)
Maj Gen Hassan Katsina (May 1968 - January 1971)
Maj Gen David Ejoor (January 1971 - July 1975)
Lt Gen Theophilus Danjuma (July 1975 - October 1979)
Lt Gen Ipoola Alani Akinrinade (October 1979 - April 1980)
Lt Gen Gibson Jalo (April 1980 - October 1981)
Lt Gen Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi (October 1981 - October 1983)
Maj Gen Ibrahim Babangida (January 1984 - August 1985)
Lt Gen Sani Abacha (August 1985 - August 1990)

Lt Gen Salihu Ibrahim (August 1990 - September 1993)
Lt Gen Aliyu Gusau Mohammed (September 1993 - November 1993)
Maj Gen Chris Alli (November 1993 - August 1994)
Maj Gen Alwali Kazir (August 1994 - March 1996)
Lt Gen Ishaya Bamaiyi (March 1996-May 1999)
Lt Gen Victor Malu (May 1999 - April 2001)
Lt Gen Alexander Ogomudia (April 2001 - June 2003)
Lt Gen Martin Luther Agwai (June 2003 June 2006)
Lt Gen Owoye Andrew Azazi (1 June 2006 - May 2007)
Lt Gen Luka Yusuf (June 2007 - August 2008)
Lt Gen Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (August 2008 - September 2010)
Lt Gen Onyabor Azubuike Ihejirika (September 2010 to Date)

Chiefs of Air Staff
Colonel G. Kahtz (1963- 1965)
Colonel W. Timming (1965- 1966)
Brigadier G.T. Kurubo (1966-1967)
Colonel Shittu Alao (1967-1969)
Brigadier E E Ikwe (1969- 1975)
AVM J.N. Yisa-Doko (1975-1980)
AVM A.D. Bello (1980- 1983 Dec 31)
Air Marshal IM Alfa (Jan 1, 1984 - 1990)
Air Marshal N.O. Yussuff (1990-1992)
Air Marshal Akin Dada (1992- 1993)
AVM Femi John Femi (1993-1996)
Air Marshal N.E. Eduok (1996-1999)
Air Marshal Isaac M. Alfa (1999-2001)
Air Marshal J.D. Wuyep (2001-2005)
Air Marshal Paul Dike (2005-2008)
Air Marshal Oluseyi O Petinrin (2008-2010)
Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar (2010-2012)
Air Vice Marshall A.S. Badeh (Oct 4, 2012 to Date)

Chiefs of Naval Staff
Captain Francis William Skutil (1956 - 1958)
Commodore A.R. Kennedy (1958-1964)
Vice Admiral Joseph Edet Akinwale-Wey (1964-1973)
Others are; Vice Admiral Nelson Bossman Soroh (1973–1975)
Vice Admiral Michael Ayinde Adelanwa (1975–1980)
Vice Admiral A Akin Aduwo (1980–1983)
Rear Admiral A.A. Aikhomu (1984-1986)
Rear Admiral PS Koshoni (1986-1990)
Among them are; Vice Admiral MAH Nyako (1990-1992)
Vice Admiral DPE Omotsola (1992-1993)
Rear Admiral S Sa’idu (Sept 1993-Nov. 1993)
Rear Admiral AA Madueke (1993-1994)
Rear Admiral OM Akhigbe (1994-1998)
Vice Admiral J. Ayinla (1998-1999)
Vice Admiral V.K. Ombu (1999-2001)
Vice Admiral S.O. Afolayan (2001-2005)
Vice Admiral G.T.A. Adeleye (2005-2008)
Vice Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim (2008-2012)
Rear Admiral Dele Ezeoba (2012 to Date)

.......BAYO OLADEJI/LEADERSHIP