The Nigerian Air Force has announced the promotion of 60 Senior Officers made up of 29 Air Vice Marshals and 31 Air Commodores to the next higher ranks.
The Air Force Council, according to a statement on Wednesday by the NAF, approved the promotion at its meeting in Abuja.
It also issued the concessional commission of an Air Warrant Officer and five Master Warrant Officers to the rank of Flight Lieutenant.
Concessional commission is usually reserved for Senior Non-Commissioned Officers at the twilight of their career years in reward for hard work and in recognition of meritorious service to the nation.
The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, in the statement, said the Senior Officers promoted to the rank of Air Vice Marshal include Precious Amadi, Nnamdi Ananaba, Abubakar Abdulkadir, Anthony Ndace, Usman Abdullahi, Eneobong Effiom, Iboro Etukudo, Abubakar Abdullahi, Sunday Aneke, Nnaemeka Ilo, Adeniyi Amesinlola, Ebimobo Ebiowe, Micheal Onyebashi, Emmanuel Shobande, Sayo Olatunde, Francis Edosa, Ahmed Shinkafi, Bashiru Mamman and Halim Adebowale. Others are Ahmed Bakari, Framah Batnah, Adeniran Ademuwagun, Lanre Oluwatoyin, Titus Dauda, Olufemi Ogunsina, Paul Masiyer, Nkem Aguiyi, Abidemi Marquis and Oluwafemi Ogunmola.
Those promoted from the rank of Group Captain to Air Commodore are Chukwuedo Illoh, Bamidele Amuda, Samson Adelakun, Hadi Ahmed, Abiodun Oyekunle, Caleb Olayera, Idorenyin Bassey, Philip Kwasau, Mohammed Omar, Ayodele Akinbuwa, Emeng Imoke, Luqman Lawal, Shaibu Buhari and Ehimen Ejodame. Others include Mohammed Lawal, Idowu Ayo, Emmanuel Ola, Ewejide Akintunde, Elisha Bindul, Dogo Gani, Edmond Oluokun, Akeem Adebomehin, George Akinyimika, Mohammed Garba, Oladimeji Almaroof, Gowon Sule, Ifeanyi Azubuike, Hamisu Usman, Adebanjo Adeosun, Sabir Adeyanju and Halima Musa, who is the only female officer on the list.
The SNCOs granted concessional Commission to the rank of Flight Lieutenant were Air Warrant Officer Adole Abraham, Master Warrant Officers Liman Musa, Akinwale Olayinka, Akpabio Josephine, Nwojiji Okemini and Isa-Kaita Aminu.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, congratulated the newly promoted senior officers and SNCOs, urging them to see the elevation as an impetus to re-dedicate themselves towards efficient service delivery.
According to Amao, the newly-promoted senior officers will be decorated with their new ranks at a later date.