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Just as the new leadership of the Nigeria Navy (NN) is settling down, a massive shakeup was yesterday effected with 61 senior officers redeployed to head or command of various departments and formations around the country. This is seen as part of the efforts of the federal government to further transform the Nigerian security situation.

In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by the NN Director of Information (DINFO) Commodore Kabiru Aliyu, he said the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete-Ibas has approved that 28 Rear Admirals and 33 Commodores be redeployed with effect from next week, the 3rd week of September. They are expected to add highly needed transformation to those areas where they are to be deployed to.

Among them were Rear Admiral S.U Chinweuba, formerly Admiral Superintendent Naval Dockyard Lagos, who will resume as Chief of Naval Engineering, while Rear Admiral A.L Akintola, who will now take over as Admiral Superintendent Naval Dockyard Ltd, Lagos. Rear Admiral P.A Agba, formerly Chief of Logistics has been appointed Chief of Naval Transformation, to take over from Rear Admiral S.I Alade, who has moved to the National Defence College as Commandant.

It is also in the news that Admiral J.A Ajani has been moved from Defence Headquarters to Naval Doctrine and Assessment Centre as Admiral Superintendent, Rear Admiral A.A Dacosta moves from Defence Headquarters to Naval Headquarters as Chief of Naval Safety and Standards, Rear Admiral K.B Ati-John is now Director of Plans, Naval Headquarters.

Rear Admiral B.A Egbedina moves to Defence Headquarters as Chief of Administration from Naval Training Command where he was Flag Officer Commanding, while Rear Admiral M.M Salami resumes as Director of Policy Naval Headquarters. Rear Admiral O.C Medani, formerly Chief of Training and Operations is now Director, Project Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate. Rear Admiral G.A Anyankpele, formerly Chief of Administration is now Chief of Logistics Naval Headquarters.

Rear Admiral H.H Babalola, former Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command is now Chief of Training and Operations at the Naval Headquarters, while Rear Admiral E.G Ofik resumes as Flag Officer Commanding, Logistics Command. The redeployment also affected. Rear Admiral J.Z Ango, formerly Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command resumes as Chief of Administration, Naval Headquarters, while Rear Admiral J.D Michika resumes at Defence Headquarters as Director of Logistics. Rear Admiral J.O Okojie formerly Admiral Superintendent Naval Ordinance Depot moves to Defence Headquarters as Director of Plans.

Similarly, Rear Admiral J.O Oluwole resumes as Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Navy Holdings Limited and Rear Admiral A.A Osinowo moves from the Defence Headquarters to Naval Training Command as Flag Officer Commanding. Rear Admiral A.S Abdulkadir is now the Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command.

This is about the very first major shake up in the Nigerian navy in many years. The have never been given such major redeployment as far as anyone can remember. The other arms of the Nigerian military, especially the Nigerian army, have been visited with such major shake up in recent past.