Everything You Need to Know About The Chief of Army Staff<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe Chief of Army Staff is the highest-ranking military personnel of the Nigerian Army. This office is always occupied by the most senior commissioned army officer.\u00a0<\/span>The Chief of the Army Staff is appointed by the Commander in Chief of Armed Forces in Nigeria, which is the President of Nigeria. The President is responsible for the appointment of The Chief of Army Staff and other Military heads.<\/span><\/p>\nSection 8 of the Public Service rules stipulate that the compulsory retirement age for all grades in the service shall be 60 years or 35 years of pensionable service, whichever is earlier.\u00a0<\/span>A Chief of Army Staff is expected to retire and quit the position once he attains the age of 60 or after 35 years in service as stipulated by the public service rule.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nThe Chief of Army Staff is to formulate and execute policies towards attaining the highest National Security and Operational competence of the force. <\/span>As we have known that the Nigerian Army is a subunit of the Nigerian Armed Forces; equally, the Chief of Army Staff reports to the Chief of Defense Staff.<\/span><\/p>\nThe Chief of Army Staff Compared to The Chief of Defense Staff<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe two offices are related but different. They perform different but complementary roles. <\/span>The Chief of Defense Staff is the head of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, and the Nigerian Airforce. While the Chief of Army Staff is the apex position in the Nigerian Army, the Chief of Defense Staff is the office that gives the order to the Chief of Army Staff, and he often reports to the Chief of Defense Staff.<\/span><\/p>\nNigerian Chief of Army Staff from 1960 to Date<\/b><\/h2>\n1. Major General Kenneth G. Exham<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/buzznigeria.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/pjimage-15.jpg\")
Major general Kenneth G. Exham<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n- Took charge:<\/strong> 1956<\/span><\/li>\n
- Handed over:<\/strong> 1959<\/span><\/li>\n
- Duration:<\/strong> 3 years<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
He is the first recorded Chief of Army Staff on Nigerian soil. At the time, it was referred to as General Officer Commanding. Major General Exham was in office from 1959<\/p>\n
2. Major General Norman Foster<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n- Took charge:<\/strong> 1960<\/span><\/li>\n
- Handed over:<\/strong> 1962<\/span><\/li>\n
- Duration:<\/strong> 2 years<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Major General Norman Foster is a British Military man, and he took over from Major-General Kenneth Exham. He served as the Chief of Army Staff from 1960 to 1962.<\/span><\/p>\n3. Major General Christopher Welby Everard<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n- Took Charge:<\/strong>\u00a01962<\/span><\/li>\n
- Handed Over:<\/strong> 1965<\/span><\/li>\n
- Duration:<\/strong> 3 years<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Major general Sir Christopher Welby-Everard was a British man born on 9th August 1909 and the first General Officer Commanding or what we know today as Chief of Army Staff in Nigeria. Before becoming GOC, he fought gallantly in the Arab revolt in Palestine (1936-1939) and World War II (1939-1945).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nAt the end of his service, he was succeeded by Major general Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, the first Nigerian General Officer Commanding, who seized power after Nigeria’s 15 January 1966 military coup.<\/span><\/p>\n4. Major General Aguyi Ironsi<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/buzznigeria.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Major-General-Aguyi-Ironsi.jpg\")
<\/a>Major General Aguyi Ironsi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n- Took charge:<\/strong> February 1965<\/span><\/li>\n
- Handed Over:<\/strong> January 1966<\/span><\/li>\n
- Duration:<\/strong> 1 year<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
He was from the southeastern part of the former eastern region of Nigeria. He became the first military head of state in Nigeria after the first military coup of January 15, 1966. Major General Aguyi Ironsi was killed during the second coup, which was tagged a counter-coup.<\/span><\/p>\n5. Lt. Colonel Yakubu Gowon<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n- Took Over:<\/strong> January 1966<\/span><\/li>\n
- Handed Over:<\/strong> July 1966<\/span><\/li>\n
- Duration:<\/strong> 6 months<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
He came from the middle belt side of the country and was a Muslim Northerner from Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State. He was made the Military Sead of State after the second military coup, which took place on July 29th, 1966.<\/span><\/p>\nDuring his reign as the head of state, he created 12 States out of the then 4 regions, and in 1967, Nigeria went into a civil war, which has been the first and the last till this publication. The Civil war lasted for 3 years, 1967-1970. After the Civil war, he came up with 3Rs, which means Reconstruction, Reconciliation, and Rehabilitation.<\/span><\/p>\n6. Lt. Colonel Joseph Akaahan<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"Lt.](\"https:\/\/buzznigeria.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/32a7cc28e36746db9afc72e0566fee0d.jpg\")
<\/a>Lt. Colonel Joseph Akaahan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n- Took Charge:<\/strong> August 1966<\/span><\/li>\n
- Handed Over:<\/strong> July 1967<\/span><\/li>\n
- Duration:<\/strong> 6 months<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Like Yakubu Gowon, he was also from the middle belt side of the country. He was a Tiv man, a Christian faithful from Benue State. He had his training in Sandhurst. He was involved in a helicopter crash, where he lost his life. Gowon was later succeeded by Lt. Colonel Iliyasu Bissala on an interim basis. Iliyasu Bissala was also Christian faithful from Plateau. Lt. Colonel Iliyasu Bissala was executed according to the military way for the part he took in the coup of February 13, 1976.<\/span><\/p>\n7. Major Gen. Hassan Usman Katsina<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n- Took Charge:<\/strong> January 1968<\/span><\/li>\n
- Handed Over:<\/strong> July 1971<\/span><\/li>\n
- Duration:<\/strong> 3 years<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
He was a Northern Muslim of Hausa-Fulani descent from Katsina. He was made the governor of the Northern Region of Nigeria from 1966-1967.<\/span><\/p>\n8. Maj. General David Ejoor<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/buzznigeria.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Major-General-David-Ejoor-1932-2019.jpg\")
<\/a>Maj. General David Ejoor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n- Took Charge:<\/strong> January 1971<\/span><\/li>\n
- Handed over:<\/strong> July 1975<\/span><\/li>\n
- Duration:<\/strong> 4 – 5 years<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
David Ejoor was made the governor of the Mid-Western State of Nigeria during the Biafra War.<\/span><\/p>\n9. Lt. General Theophilus Danjuma<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n- Took Charge:<\/strong> July 1975<\/span><\/li>\n
- Handed Over:<\/strong> September 1979<\/span><\/li>\n
- Duration:<\/strong> 4 years<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
He was a Christian from the Jukun tribe of Benue State. He served under the military administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo. He was a notable opposition to then-President\u00a0Olusegun Obasanjo<\/a>‘s quest for a third term in office in 2007.<\/span><\/p>\n10. Lt. Gen. Alani Akinrinade<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/buzznigeria.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Lt.-Gen.-Alani-Akinrinade-retd.jpg\")
<\/a>Lt. Gen. Alani Akinrinade<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n- Took charge:<\/strong> Oct. 1979\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Handed Over:<\/strong> April 1980<\/span><\/li>\n
- Duration:<\/strong> 6 months<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
He was a Yoruba man born in Osun State of the South-Western region of Nigeria. Alani Akinrinade was a Christian faithful. He played a vital role in fighting the Biafran in January 1970. He was later appointed as the Minister of Agriculture from 1985\u20131986, and also of\u00a0 Industries in (1988) and was also in General Ibrahim Babangida\u2019s government as the minister of transportation.<\/span><\/p>\n11. Lt. Gen. Gibson Jalo<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n- Took Charge:<\/strong> April 1980<\/span><\/li>\n
- Handed Over:<\/strong> October 1981<\/span><\/li>\n
- Duration:<\/strong> 18 months<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Lt. General Gibson Jalo was a\u00a0 Muslim Northerner from Bachama, Adamawa State.<\/span><\/p>\n12. Lt. Gen. Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"Lt.](\"https:\/\/buzznigeria.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/d41b64a71df935a947a6b1d3d0be084f.jpg\")
<\/a>Lt. Gen. Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n- Took Charge:<\/strong> October 1981<\/span><\/li>\n
- Handed Over:<\/strong> December 1983<\/span><\/li>\n
- Duration:<\/strong> 2 years<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
A Nupe man from Niger State, a Northern Muslim faithful. He was able to chair several boards of directors of big companies after his retirement.<\/span><\/p>\n13. Maj. General Ibrahim Babangida<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n- Took Charge:<\/strong> January 1984<\/span><\/li>\n
- Handed Over:<\/strong> August 1985<\/span><\/li>\n
- Duration:<\/strong> 19 months\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
General Ibrahim Babangida was born in Minna, Niger State. He succeeded General Muhammadu Buhari as the Military Head of State. He reigned as the head of state from August 1985 to August 1993. During his tenure, he introduced Structural Adjustment Program (SAP).<\/span><\/p>\n14. Lt. Gen. Sani Abacha<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"Lt.](\"https:\/\/buzznigeria.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Sani-Abacha-compressed-1024x686.jpg\")
<\/a>Lt. Gen Sani Abacha<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n- Took Over:<\/strong> August 1985<\/span><\/li>\n
- Handed Over:<\/strong> September 1990<\/span><\/li>\n
- Duration:<\/strong> 5 years<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
He was a Northern Muslim of the Kanuri tribe from Borno, who settled in Kano. He became the military head of state in\u00a0 November 1993 and ruled until his death in June 1998.<\/span><\/p>\n15.\u00a0 Lt. Gen. Salihu Ibrahim<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n- Took Charge:<\/strong> Sept.\u00a0 1990<\/span><\/li>\n
Section 8 of the Public Service rules stipulate that the compulsory retirement age for all grades in the service shall be 60 years or 35 years of pensionable service, whichever is earlier.\u00a0<\/span>A Chief of Army Staff is expected to retire and quit the position once he attains the age of 60 or after 35 years in service as stipulated by the public service rule.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Chief of Army Staff is to formulate and execute policies towards attaining the highest National Security and Operational competence of the force. <\/span>As we have known that the Nigerian Army is a subunit of the Nigerian Armed Forces; equally, the Chief of Army Staff reports to the Chief of Defense Staff.<\/span><\/p>\n The two offices are related but different. They perform different but complementary roles. <\/span>The Chief of Defense Staff is the head of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, and the Nigerian Airforce. While the Chief of Army Staff is the apex position in the Nigerian Army, the Chief of Defense Staff is the office that gives the order to the Chief of Army Staff, and he often reports to the Chief of Defense Staff.<\/span><\/p>\n He is the first recorded Chief of Army Staff on Nigerian soil. At the time, it was referred to as General Officer Commanding. Major General Exham was in office from 1959<\/p>\n Major General Norman Foster is a British Military man, and he took over from Major-General Kenneth Exham. He served as the Chief of Army Staff from 1960 to 1962.<\/span><\/p>\n Major general Sir Christopher Welby-Everard was a British man born on 9th August 1909 and the first General Officer Commanding or what we know today as Chief of Army Staff in Nigeria. Before becoming GOC, he fought gallantly in the Arab revolt in Palestine (1936-1939) and World War II (1939-1945).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n At the end of his service, he was succeeded by Major general Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, the first Nigerian General Officer Commanding, who seized power after Nigeria’s 15 January 1966 military coup.<\/span><\/p>\n He was from the southeastern part of the former eastern region of Nigeria. He became the first military head of state in Nigeria after the first military coup of January 15, 1966. Major General Aguyi Ironsi was killed during the second coup, which was tagged a counter-coup.<\/span><\/p>\n He came from the middle belt side of the country and was a Muslim Northerner from Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State. He was made the Military Sead of State after the second military coup, which took place on July 29th, 1966.<\/span><\/p>\n During his reign as the head of state, he created 12 States out of the then 4 regions, and in 1967, Nigeria went into a civil war, which has been the first and the last till this publication. The Civil war lasted for 3 years, 1967-1970. After the Civil war, he came up with 3Rs, which means Reconstruction, Reconciliation, and Rehabilitation.<\/span><\/p>\n Like Yakubu Gowon, he was also from the middle belt side of the country. He was a Tiv man, a Christian faithful from Benue State. He had his training in Sandhurst. He was involved in a helicopter crash, where he lost his life. Gowon was later succeeded by Lt. Colonel Iliyasu Bissala on an interim basis. Iliyasu Bissala was also Christian faithful from Plateau. Lt. Colonel Iliyasu Bissala was executed according to the military way for the part he took in the coup of February 13, 1976.<\/span><\/p>\n He was a Northern Muslim of Hausa-Fulani descent from Katsina. He was made the governor of the Northern Region of Nigeria from 1966-1967.<\/span><\/p>\n David Ejoor was made the governor of the Mid-Western State of Nigeria during the Biafra War.<\/span><\/p>\n He was a Christian from the Jukun tribe of Benue State. He served under the military administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo. He was a notable opposition to then-President\u00a0Olusegun Obasanjo<\/a>‘s quest for a third term in office in 2007.<\/span><\/p>\n He was a Yoruba man born in Osun State of the South-Western region of Nigeria. Alani Akinrinade was a Christian faithful. He played a vital role in fighting the Biafran in January 1970. He was later appointed as the Minister of Agriculture from 1985\u20131986, and also of\u00a0 Industries in (1988) and was also in General Ibrahim Babangida\u2019s government as the minister of transportation.<\/span><\/p>\n Lt. General Gibson Jalo was a\u00a0 Muslim Northerner from Bachama, Adamawa State.<\/span><\/p>\n A Nupe man from Niger State, a Northern Muslim faithful. He was able to chair several boards of directors of big companies after his retirement.<\/span><\/p>\n General Ibrahim Babangida was born in Minna, Niger State. He succeeded General Muhammadu Buhari as the Military Head of State. He reigned as the head of state from August 1985 to August 1993. During his tenure, he introduced Structural Adjustment Program (SAP).<\/span><\/p>\n He was a Northern Muslim of the Kanuri tribe from Borno, who settled in Kano. He became the military head of state in\u00a0 November 1993 and ruled until his death in June 1998.<\/span><\/p>\nThe Chief of Army Staff Compared to The Chief of Defense Staff<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Nigerian Chief of Army Staff from 1960 to Date<\/b><\/h2>\n
1. Major General Kenneth G. Exham<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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2. Major General Norman Foster<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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3. Major General Christopher Welby Everard<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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4. Major General Aguyi Ironsi<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a>\n
5. Lt. Colonel Yakubu Gowon<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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6. Lt. Colonel Joseph Akaahan<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a>\n
7. Major Gen. Hassan Usman Katsina<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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8. Maj. General David Ejoor<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a>\n
9. Lt. General Theophilus Danjuma<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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10. Lt. Gen. Alani Akinrinade<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a>\n
11. Lt. Gen. Gibson Jalo<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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12. Lt. Gen. Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a>\n
13. Maj. General Ibrahim Babangida<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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14. Lt. Gen. Sani Abacha<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a>\n
15.\u00a0 Lt. Gen. Salihu Ibrahim<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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