President Bola Tinubu has appointed his former police orderly and staunch loyalist Kayode Egbetokun as the new Inspector-General of the Nigeria Police Force.

Mr Tinubu also named Abiodun Lagbaja as the new chief of army staff.

The new appointments came after the president fired all service chiefs and announced immediate replacements across the country, in a move that also affected the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force.

Mr Lagbaja, a major-general, was, until his appointment, the general officer in charge of Nigerian Army 1 Division, Kaduna.  

Mr Egbetokun’s confirmation as inspector-general came days after he was promoted to deputy police inspector-general. He served as an orderly to Mr Tinubu, and both remained allies for several years. 

The president also confirmed Nuhu Ribadu as the National Security Adviser. Mr Ribadu led the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from when it became operational in 2003 until late 2007 when he was fired by former President Umar Yar’Adua. 

Adeniyi Bashir Adewale was named acting-comptroller-general of Nigeria Customs Service.

The president also named Major-General Christopher Gwabin Musa from Sokoto as the new chief of defence staff; while Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla was confirmed as the new chief of naval staff. 

The Nigerian Air Force will be led by Baba Abubakar, an air vice marshal, according to the president’s announcement, while Paul Undiandeye will lead the Defence Intelligence. 

Other appointments by the president include Adebisi Onasanya, a colonel, as commander of Brigade of Guards; Moshood Abiodun Yusuf, a lieutenant-colonel, as commander of Nigerian Army 7 Guards Battalion, Asokoro; Auwalu Inuwa, a lieutenant-colonel, as commander of Nigerian Army 177 Guards Battalion, Keffi; Mohammed Abdulkarim, a lieutenant-colonial, as commander of Nigerian Army 102 Guards Battalion, Suleja; and Olumide Akingbesote, a lieutenant-colonel, as commander of 176 Guards Battalion, Gwagwalada.

Further appointments made by the president include Isa Farouk Audu, a major, as commander of the State House Artillery; Kazeem Sunmonu, a captain, as second-in-command of the State House Artillery; Kamaru Koyejo Hamza, a major, as commander of State House Military Intelligence; T.S. Adeola, a major, as commander of the State House Armament; and A. Aminu, a lieutenant, as second-in-command of the State House Armament. 

Finally, the president confirmed Hadiza Bala Usman as a special adviser, policy coordination; Hannatu Musawa, special adviser, culture and entertainment economy; Abdulahi Gumel, senior special assistant, National Assembly matter (Senate); and Olarewaju Kunle Ibrahim, senior special assistant, National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives).