The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, yesterday approved the appointment and redeployment of new branch chiefs, Air Officers Commanding (AOCs), Commandants of Tri-Service and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Institutions.

In a statement signed by Group Captain Joel Abioye for the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF explained that the redeployment was part of routine exercise aimed at ensuring operational efficiency and effective service delivery in the NAF.

Abioye also announced the appointment of a new spokesperson, Air Commodore Wapkerem Maigida, to replace Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, who was redeployed and appointed as Commander 551 NAF Station, Jos.

“Also, former Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Air Commodore (Air Cdre) Edward Gabkwet has been appointed Commander 551 NAF Station, Jos while Air Cdre Wapkerem Maigida is now the new NAF Spokesperson.

“The newly appointed Branch Chiefs are Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Jackson Yusuf, formerly, Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP), Headquarters NAF (HQ NAF) who is now the Chief of Defence Policy and Plans (CDPP), Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Abuja, AVM Idi Lubo, erstwhile Commandant Armed Forces Resettlement Centre is now Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP) HQ NAF, AVM Mohammed Yakubu, immediate past Commandant Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) is now appointed Chief of Aircraft Engineering, HQ NAF, AVM Ayoola Jolasinmi, former CDPP, DHQ is now the Chief of Defence Space Administration while the erstwhile Commandant Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, AVM Anthony Tuwase is now the Chief of Defence Transformation and Innovation (CDTI), DHQ”, it said.

In the same vein, AVM Paul Masiyer is now the Chief of Logistics, HQ NAF, AVM Ibikunle Daramola the erstwhile Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Ground Training Command (GTC) is appointed the Chief of Communications Information Systems (CCIS), HQ NAF, AVM Samuel Chinda now takes over as Chief of Air Intelligence, HQ NAF while AVM Anthony Ndace is now the Air Secretary, HQ NAF.

“Also affected by the new appointments are AVM Emmanuel Wonah, former Chief of Aircraft Engineering who is now the Commandant Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, AVM Charles Ohwo, former CDTI who has now been appointed as the Commandant Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Lagos, AVM Paul Jemitola, the immediate past Air Secretary is now the Commandant, Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna and AVM Abraham Adole as the Commandant, Air Force War College, Makurdi”, it said.

According to the statement, other newly appointed AOCs are AVM Sayo Olatunde, former Commandant Air Force War College who is now the AOC, Ground Training Command, Enugu, AVM Ebimobo Ebiowe is now the AOC Mobility Command, Yenagoa.

“Air Cdre Olayinka Oyesola takes over as the Air Component Commander (Joint Task Force North East) Operation Hadin Kai, the statement further said.

Amao congratulated the affected officers and charged them to bring their professional experiences to bear and continually explore new methods of proffering workable solutions and renewed strategies to resolving the security challenges in the country.

The statement said both the newly appointed and redeployed senior officers are expected to assume duties on or before Friday, 6 January 2023.