The profiles of the New Service chiefs

The new Service Chiefs are: Maj. Gen. C.G Musa, Chief of Defence Staff; Maj. Gen. T. A Lagbaja, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admirral E. A Ogalla, Chief of Naval Staff; AVM H.B Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff; DIG Kayode Egbetokun, Acting Inspector-General of Police and Maj. Gen. EPA Undiandeye, Chief of Defense Intelligence.

  1. Maj.-Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa, Chief of Defence Staff

Major General Christopher Gwabin Musa was born in Sokoto State, Northwest Nigeria on December 25, 1967.

He attended primary and secondary education in the conservative Muslim state although he is originally from Zangon Kataf Local Government Area in the Christian South of Kaduna State.

Musa was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna State in 1986 where he underwent intense and rigorous military training for five years during a time the Nigerian military held political power in the country.

In September 1991, he was commissioned into the Nigerian Army as a second lieutenant in the Infantry Corps.

He holds an Advanced Diploma in Security Management from University of Lagos, Advance Diploma in Defence and Strategic Course (China) – International College of Defence Studies -National Defense University (ICDS-NDU) – Changing – China, amongst others.

Major-General Musa has attended all statutory Military Courses and Trainings both in Nigeria and outside Nigeria.

He was the General Staff Officer 1 Training/Operations at HQ 81 Division, he was the Commanding Officer 73 Battalion, Assistant Director Operational Requirements at Department of Army Policy and Plans, Infantry Representative/Member Training Team at HQ Nigerian Army Armour Corps.

Also, he was the Deputy Chief of Staff Training/Operations at HQ Infantry Centre and Corps, Commander Sector 3 OP LAFIYA DOLE, Commander Sector 3 Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Tchad Region, and other positions too numerous to mention.

He was also the Theatre Commander, Operation HADIN KAI.

Until his appointment as Chief of Defence Staff, he was Commander, Nigerian Army Infantry Corps.

  1. Maj. Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, Chief of Army Staff

He was 39th General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna on Monday.

Lagbaja also served as Chief of Operation (DAOP), Army Headquarters, Abuja.

  1. Rear Admiral A. Emmanuel Ogalla, Chief of Naval Staff

Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla was born on 20 Dec 68 in Enugu Ezike Igbo Eze north LGA Enugu State, Nigeria. He obtained the WASC from the NMS Zaria in Jun 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 RC NDA, graduated with a BSc in Maths and was awarded sword of honour as the best naval cadet in his course. He was commissioned S Lt on 16 Sep 92 and rose to the rank of R Adm wef 16 Sep 21. 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 Aug 14. As part of the Course, he took part in the MSc Strategic Studies programme, University of Ibadan from 2014 to 2015.

He 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. As Comdt, he linked the School with Teledyn Marines, a reputable OEM in the US, which enabled the NN to procure several survey equipment from the company, leading to improvements in practical training. He was also instrumental to the review of the School’s curriculum to align with IHO requirements. During his tour of duty in the NNHO, the senior officer was instrumental to the localisation of tidal prediction and analysis. He participated in the FAO sponsored Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem survey in 2004 and provided professional inputs during the survey and production of the NNHO charts. During his tour of duty at the NDC, he contributed towards the improvement of the College research package and also led the 2018 participants research study tour to China and South Korea. As DLL he was responsible for collating and analysing previous NN Operations and activities with the objective of drawing lessons necessary for doctrinal and operational improvements.

He 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 hubbies include jugging, reading,

  1. Air Vice Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff

Air Vice Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar was born on 11 September 1970.

He hails from Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State.

He enlisted into the NAF as a member of NDA RC 39 and commissioned Pilot Offr on 19 Sep 92.

Abubakar bagged a Bachelor of Science Degree from the Nigerian Defence, Academy Kaduna.

He holds a Master’s Degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy from ABU, Zaria.

He was Admin Officer 16 Engineering Wing, 1 Engineering Group NAF Makurdi.

He also held the position of Officer Commanding Admin Services Flight/ Group Public Relations Officer, 97 Special Operations Group NAF Port Harcourt.

Abubakar was appointed Officer Commanding Yellow Squadron – Air Force Military School Jos and Admin Officer Primary Flying Training Wing – 301 FTS NAF Kaduna, as well as SO1 Admin 301 FTS NAF Kaduna.

He was also 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 and Operations Officer, Operational Conversion Unit 88 Military Airlift group Nigerian air Force Lagos.

He was also Operations Officer, 88 Military Airlift Group, Ikeja, Lagos; Commanding Officer, 21 Wing 88, Military Airlift Group Lagos; Group Safety Officer 88 Military Airlift Group Ikeja, Lagos; Fleet operation officer, 011, Presidential Air Fleet; Commander 011 Presidential Air Fleet, Chief of Staff, Mobility Command; Director of Policy, HQ NAF and Director of Operations, HQ NAF; Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command and the Chief of Standards and Operations, HQ NAF.

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

  1. DIG Kayode Egbetokun, Acting Inspector-General of Police

Kayode Egbetokun
Egbetokun was born on Sept. 4, 1964 in Erinja, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.

His a June 1987 graduate of Mathematics from University of Lagos (UNILAG).

Egbetokun lectured Mathematics briefly at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, before his enlistment into the police.

His other academic qualifications include MSC Engineering Analysis (UNILAG), also from the University of Lagos, Akoka, 1996; Post-Graduate Diploma in Petroleum Economics from Delta State University, Abraka, 2000; and an MBA from Lagos State University, Ojo, 2004.

Egbetokun enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on March 3, 1990, as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police.

In 1999, he was appointed Chief Security Officer to Governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Tinubu.

He served as the Commander, Rapid Response Squad, Lagos; Squadron Commander, Mopol 5, Benin, Benin City; Officer-in-Charge, Anti-Fraud Unit, FCT Command, Abuja; Chief Superintendent of Police, Administration, Lagos State Command Head Quarters, Ikeja; Area Commander, Osogbo, Osun State Command; and Area Commander, Gusau, Zamfara State Command, amongst others.

He was promoted Commissioner of Police on 29 September, 2020 and was deployed to Kwara State; Assistant Inspector General of Police in September 2022, and deployed to Zone 7 (Abuja) and Deputy Inspector General of Police on March 29, 2023 and deployed to the FCID.

Tags: President Bola Tinubu Service Chiefs

Source :

P.M.News

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *