The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has authorized the promotion of 57 senior officers, including 26 Group-Captains and 31 Air-Commodores, to the next higher positions. They include Air-Cdres Esen Efanga, Michael Ekwueme, John Laoye, Bgmibgmitawuza Solomon, Hassan Alhaji, Idi Sani, Patrick Obeya, Ahmed Dari, Gabriel Kehinde, Ebimbowei Yinkere, Anthony Ekpe, Patrick Phillips, Bukkan Sani, and Ndubuisi Okoro. Other names include Paul Irumheson, Alfred Shogbanmu, Olasunkanmi Abidoye, Lawal Danzangi, Abdullahi Bello, Boniface Ifeobu, Anthony Martins, Dominic Danat, Samuel Chinda, Mohammed Yusuf, and Air-Commodore Mohammed Aliyu.
According to Air-Commodore Edward Gabkwet, Director of Public Relations & Information for the Nigerian Air Force, the AFC also authorized the terminal promotion of 6 senior officers, including the promotion of a Gp-Capt to the rank of Air-Cdre and 5 Air-Cdres to the rank of AVM. Sunny Ohemu, Akugbe Iyamu, Joseph Malgwi, Dauda Prayero, Christopher Egwoba, and Dauda Prayero are the 5 Air-Commodores that received terminal promotions, and Gp Capt Aderemi Alli-Balogun received terminal promotion to the rank of Air Commodore.
Gp-Capts David Bello, Magnus Abanum, Friday Bassey, Babatunde Oguntunde, Chukwuma Ohanele, Loveday Wariboko, Okechukwu Okpara, Daniel Njoku, and David Babalola are additional individuals who have been promoted from the rank of Gp Capt to Air Cdre. Umar Idris, Semiu Bakare, Usman Umar, Gabriel Oyekale, Sunday Bello, Mathew Bulus, Jilantikiri Ijudigal, Isaac Adelakun, Musa Aileru, Haliru Badamasi, Apeh Joseph, and Gp-Capt Yelwa Mohammed are some of the benficiaries.
On behalf of the entire NAF family, Air-Marshal Oladayo Amao, Chief of the Air Staff, extends sincere congratulations to the senior officers who have recently been promoted while advising them to view their new position as an additional responsibility that necessitates strategic level critical analysis and thought in order to provide long-term solutions to the nation’s ongoing security issues.
For those who had received terminal promotions, Air-Marshal Amao wished them luck in their future endeavours and gave them the advice to demonstrate their merit for the elevation by serving as outstanding NAF ambassadors who are ready, willing, and always ready to contribute their fair share to the development of the Service.
While the terminally promoted officers were honored by the CAS earlier today at a quick but colorful ceremony at NAF Headquarters, others will receive their new ranks at a later time that will be made public soon.