He joined the Nigeria Air Force in 1964, and attended the Nigeria Air Force Tactical Training Wing in Kaduna. From 1964 to 1966, he completed the Aircraft Technical Officer's Course in West Germany, and later took part in the Nigerian Civil War effort.[2] After the war, he was the Air Provost Marshal, Air Provost Group from 1971 to 1980; and also attended the Royal Military Police Training Centre in Chichester in 1974. He participated in the 1975 military coup d'état which brought General Murtala Mohammed to power;[3] and from 1980 to 1984 was the Group Commander, Ground Training Group in Kaduna.[4]
He was ordered to ensure the successful relocation of the seat of government from Lagos to Abuja. His goal was to have 75% of the ministries in Abuja by 1990, the target date for the official relocation of the capital from Lagos.[7] During his tenure, he oversaw the construction of Phase 1:[8] with the main districts of Maitama and Asokoro and several federal monuments including the city gate; the Aso Rock Presidential Villa and the military barracks.[9]
Later life
In October 1988, he was promoted to Air Vice Marshal the third highest rank in the Nigerian Air Force, and retired two months later. In retirement, he lived a private life – and was a director at Julius Berger, a German construction and engineering company; Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company Limited, a Nigerian-German construction company. He was widely respected for his military professionalism and disciplinary pedigree, he was an associate and close friend of General Ibrahim Babangida.[10]
Death
He died on 3 January 2019, in a German hospital after a protracted illness.[11]