Meet New CDS, Service Chiefs

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday appointed Major General Christopher Musa as the Chief of Defence staff (CDS), Maj. Gen. Toareed Abiodun Lagbaja as Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Rear Admiral Emmanuel. A Ogalla as Chief of Naval Staff (CHS) and Air Vice Marshal H.B Abubakar Chief of Air Staff (CAS).

This was contained in a statement made available to journalists by Director, Information State House Willie Bassey on behalf of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on Monday.

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CDS

Until his appointment as the CDS, Major General Musa was the commandant Nigerian Army Infantry Corps Jaji, in Kaduna state.

Musa’s assumption as the Infantry Corps Commander followed his redeployment as theatre commander North-East Joint Task Force Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK).

A member of the 38 regular course of the Nigerian Defence Army, General Musa was in Sokoto state on December 25, 1967. He attained primary and secondary education in Sokoto state although he is originally from Zangon Kataf Local Government Area Southern of Kaduna state.

In 1986, he was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy in September 1991 and was commissioned into the Nigerian Army as a second lieutenant in the Infantry Corps.

COAS

General Lagbaja is a member of the 39 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy and was commissioned to the rank of a second lieutenant on 19 September 1992.

He was born in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area, Osun state on 28 February 1968 and attended Local Authority Teachers College Demonstration School Osogbo between 1973 to 1979, St Charles Grammar School, Osogbo from 1979 to 1984, the Polytechnic, Ibadan from 1984 to 1986 and obtained West African School Certificate (Advanced Level).

He was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy on 12 September 1987 as a member of 39th Regular Course and Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant on 19 September 1992 into the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps.

Until his appointment as the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja was the Chief of Training (Army). Before his redeployment to the Army headquarters he was the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division Nigerian Army Kaduna. He was also the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division Nigerian Army in Enugu.

During his tour of duty as 1 Division GOC, Gen. Lagbaja was instrumental to the successes troops have recorded against armed bandits, terrorists and cattle rustlers in Kaduna, Niger, Kebbi, and other North-West States.

Courses Attended.

Company Amphibious Operations Course – Amphibious Training School (May – June 1993), Young Officers’ Course (Infantry) – Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (September – December 1993), Basic Airborne Course – Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (March – April 1995). – Not Graded, Advanced Airborne Course – Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (November – December 1995).

Amphibious Staff Operations Course – Amphibious Training School (September – December 1997), Company Commanders’ Course – Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (February – May 2003), Battalion Commanders’ Course – Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (September – December 2009), Junior Staff Course – Armed Forces Command and Staff (May – December 2000), Senior Staff Course – Armed Forces Command and Staff (August 2005 – July 2006)

Others are Military Observers Course – Peacekeeping Wing Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (February – May 2008), ECOWAS Standby Force Battalion Command Post Course – Peacekeeping Centre, Bamako, Mali – (June – August 2010), Strategy and Leadership Course – US Army War College (April 2003 – June 2014), Command/Staff/Instructional Appointments, 93 Battalion – 1992 – 1995 as a Platoon commander, 72 Special Forces Battalion – 1995 – 2001 as a Platoon commander and Nigerian Defence Academy – 2001 – 2004 as an Instructor among others .

CNS

The Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, was born on 20 December 1968 in Enugu Ezike, Igbo Eze north LGA Enugu State.

He obtained the WASC from the NMS Zaria in June 87 where he graduated as the best boy in Sciences. He had A1 in all subjects except English language.

He is a member of the 39 Regular Course NDA. He graduated with a BSc in Maths and was awarded the sword of honour as the best naval cadet in his course.

He was commissioned Second Lieutenant on 16 September 92 and rose to the rank of Rear Admiral on16 September 2021. He completed the STC NNS QUORRA, Basic Hydrography National Hydrographic School India in May 2000, Junior and Senior Staff Courses AFCSC Jaji in Nov 01 and Jul 06 respectively. He was a participant of NDC Course 22 and was awarded fdc in August 14. As part of the Course, he took part in the MSc Strategic Studies programme, University of Ibadan from 2014 to 2015.

The senior officer served on board many ships including NNS AMBE, ARADU, LANA, EKUN, AGU, QUORRA, BEECROFT, DELTA and PATHFINDER. While on board NNS EKUN he took part in the ECOMOG Operations in Liberia in 1996. Also as the Base operations officer in NNS PATHFINDER, he was responsible for coordinating anti illegal bunkering operations as well the entire policing duties of the base. During the period there was a remarkable reduction in illegal activities in the maritime area within the base area of operations.

He also served as Instructor, CI and Comdt NNHS, SO 1 Survey and DD Instruments NNHO, ADCP, DD Hydro and DPR NHQ, as well as DS/ DARAS NDC and D Audit NASS NHQ. He is currently the DLL NHQ. During his cumulative 6-year tour of duty in NNHS, he taught geodesy, datum conversion, tidal predictions and analysis, satellite surveying, bathymetry, among others.

Ogalla is decorated with FSS, MSS, DSS and GSS. He is a member of the Nigerian Hydrographic Society, Nigerian Institute of Management, the International Earth Rotation Services and also a fellow of the Occupational Safety and Health Association of the UK. He is married to Mrs Ijeoma Ogalla and the marriage is blessed with 2 children. His hobbies include jogging, reading, listening and researching about science and nature.

CAS

Air vice Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar was born on 11 September 1970. Before his appointment as the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), he was the Air Officer Commanding, Logistics Command.

He hails from Shanono Local Government Area in Kano state. He enlisted into the NAF as a member of NDA Regular Course 39 and was commissioned Pilot Officer on 19 September 92.

Courses attended

He has attended several courses. Some of these include: Bachelor of Science Degree from the Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna. Ab initio and Basic Flying Training Courses at the 301 Flying Training School Kaduna, Basic and Advance Airborne Courses at Nigerian Army Infantry Center and School Jaji, Company Amphibious Operations Course at Nigerian Army Infantry Center and School in Calabar, Junior and Senior Command and Staff Courses at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji and, National Defence Course at the Nasser Higher Military Academy, Cairo – Egypt. Master’s Degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy from ABU Zaria.

The very senior officer has held several appointments, some of which are: Admin Officer 16 Engineering Wing, 1 Engineering Group NAF Makurdi, Officer Commanding Admin Services Flight/ Group Public Relations Officer, 97 Special Operations Group NAF Port Harcourt.

Officer Commanding Yellow Squadron – Air Force Military School Jos, Admin Officer Primary Flying Training Wing – 301 FTS NAF Kaduna, SO1 Admin 301 FTS NAF Kaduna, Officer Commanding ‘B’ Squadron (Do 228) – 81 Air Maritime Group NAF Benin, Team Leader MILOB Team Site 615 Mahagi (Ituri Brigade) MONUC.

Aviation Planning Officer, MONUC Air Operations Kinshasa, DRC, Commanding Officer Base Services Wing 81 Air Maritime Group Nigerian Air force Benin.

Air Vice Marshal HB Abubakar is happily married with children and in his leisure time, the senior officer enjoys flying airplanes, reading, reflecting and keeping fit.