Chief of the Naval Staff (Nigeria)
Professional head of the Nigerian Navy
The chief of the naval staff (CNS ) is the military head and highest ranking military officer of the Nigerian Navy .[ 1] Nigerian Armed Forces unless the chief of defence staff is a naval officer. The position is often occupied by the most senior commissioned officer appointed by the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria . The chief of the naval staff reports to the chief of defence staff , who also reports to the defence minister .[ 2] [ 3]
The current chief of the naval staff is Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla who was appointed in June 2023 by President Bola Tinubu to succeed Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo .
Chiefs of the naval staff
The table below is a chronological list of officers holding the position of Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS).
No.
Portrait
Chief of the Naval Staff
Took office
Left office
Time in office
Ref.
1 Skutil, Francis CaptainFrancis William Skutil 1956 1958 1–2 years – 2 Kennedy, Alexander CommodoreAlexander R. Kennedy 1958 March 1964 5–6 years – 3 Wey, Joseph Vice AdmiralJoseph Edet Akinwale Wey OFR FSS (1918–1991) Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters March 1964 January 1973 8 years, – 4 Soroh, Nelson Rear AdmiralNelson Bossman Soroh MFR FSS idc (1928–2006) January 1973 29 July 1975 2 years, – 5 Adelanwa, Michael Rear AdmiralMichael Ayinde Adelanwa GCON FSS rcds (born 1937) 29 July 1975 15 April 1980 – 6 Aduwo, Akintunde Vice AdmiralAkintunde Aduwo CFR FSS FBIM (born 1938) 15 April 1980 31 December 1983 – 7 Aikhomu, Augustus Rear AdmiralAugustus Akhabue Aikhomu FSS Psc, mni (1939–2011) later Chief of General Staff January 1984 October 1986 2 years, – 8 Koshoni, Patrick Vice AdmiralPatrick Seubo Koshoni FSS Psc, mni (1943–2020) October 1986 January 1990 3 years, – 9 Nyako, Murtala Vice AdmiralMurtala Hamman-Yero Nyako FSS Psc, mni (born 1942/1943) January 1990 February 1992 2 years – 10 Omosola, Dan Vice AdmiralDan Preston Omosola FSS , DSO, psc, rcds February 1992 September 1993 1 year – 11 Saidu, Suleiman Rear AdmiralSuleiman Saidu FSS , LSS, MSS, DSS, rcds (born 1942) September 1993 November 1993 2 months – 12 Madueke, Allison Rear AdmiralAllison Amaechina Madueke FSS DSS, MRNI, mni (born 1944) November 1993 August 1994 9 months – 13 Akhigbe, Michael Rear AdmiralOkhai Michael Akhigbe FSS DSS, psc, mni (1946–2013) later Chief of General Staff August 1994 9 June 1998 3 years, 10 months – 14 Ayinla, Jubril Vice AdmiralJubril Ayinla GCON FSS DSS, psc, Usnwc, fwc (born 1948) 9 June 1998 29 May 1999 – 15 Ombu, Victor Vice AdmiralVictor Ombu CFR mni (born 1947) 29 May 1999 24 April 2001 – 16 Afolayan, Samuel Vice AdmiralSamuel Olajide Afolayan DSS, psc, fwc (born 1948) 24 April 2001 20 July 2005 – 17 Adekeye, Ganiyu Vice AdmiralGaniyu Tunde Adegboyega Adekeye DSS, psc, mirss, mni (born 1952) 20 July 2005 20 August 2008 – 18 Ibrahim, Ishaya Vice AdmiralIshaya Iko Ibrahim CFR DSS, psc, fwc (1952–2022) 20 August 2008 8 September 2010 – 19 Ibrahim, Ola Vice AdmiralOla Sa'ad Ibrahim DSS, psc, rcds, fwc, LLB, (Hons) MA (born 1955) later Chief of Defence Staff 8 September 2010 4 October 2012 – 20 Ezeoba,Dele Vice AdmiralDele Joseph Ezeoba GSS, fwc, Msc, MRIN, FCIS (born 1958) 4 October 2012 20 January 2014 – 21 Jibrin, Usman Vice AdmiralUsman Oyibe Jibrin GSS, AM, psc+, mni, LLB, PGCPA (born 1959) 20 January 2014 21 July 2015 – 22 Ibas, Ibok-Ete Vice AdmiralIbok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (born 1960) 21 July 2015 29 January 2021 – 23 Gambo, Awwal Vice AdmiralAwwal Zubairu Gambo (born 1965) 29 January 2021 23 June 2023 – 24 Ogalla, Emmanuel Vice AdmiralEmmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla (born 1968) 23 June 2023 Incumbent –
References
Chiefs of the navy by country
Africa
Americas
Asia
Europe
Oceania
