Chief of the Air Staff (Nigeria)

Last updated
Chief of the Air Staff
Nigerian Air Force emblem.svg
Nigerian Air Force emblem
Hasan Bala Abukakar.jpg
since 22 June 2023
Air Force Ensign of Nigeria.svg  Nigerian Air Force
AbbreviationCAS
Member of
  • National Security Council
  • National Defence Council
Reports to Chief of the Defence Staff
Appointer President of Nigeria
Formation1963
(62 years ago)
 (1963)
First holder Gerhard Kahtz

The chief of the air staff (CAS) is the professional head and highest ranking military officer of the Nigerian Air Force. The position is often occupied by the most senior commissioned officer appointed by the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. The post was created in 1963 with Colonel Gerhard Kahtz of the German Air Force as the first incumbent.

The current and 22nd chief of the air staff is Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, who succeeded Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao in June 2023.

List of chiefs

The following have served as Chief of the Air Staff: [1]

No.PortraitChief of Air StaffTook officeLeft officeTime in officeRef.
1
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Kahtz, Gerhard Colonel
Gerhard Kahtz
(born 1922)
5 May 196311 November 19652 years, 190 days
2
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Thimmig, WolfgangColonel
Wolfgang Thimmig
(1912–1976)
24 November 196519 January 196656 days
3
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Kurubo, George Lieutenant Colonel
George T. Kurubo
(1934–2000)
19 January 19665 August 19671 year, 198 days
4
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Alao, ShittuColonel
Shittu Alao
(1937–1969)
5 August 196715 October 1969 2 years, 71 days
5
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Ikwue, Emmanuel Brigadier
Emmanuel E Ikwue
(born 1940)
18 December 196929 July 19755 years, 223 days
6
Air Vice-Marshal John Yisa-Doko.jpg
Yisa, John Air Vice-Marshal
John Nmadu Yisa-Doko
(1942–2012)
29 July 197514 April 19804 years, 260 days
7
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Bello, AbdullahiAir Vice-Marshal
Abdullahi Dominic Bello
(born 1942)
15 April 198031 December 19833 years, 260 days
8
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Alfa, Ibrahim Air Marshal
Ibrahim Mahmud Alfa
(1946–2000)
1 January 19841 January 19906 years, 0 days
9
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Yussuff, NurainiAir Vice-Marshal
Nuraini Oladimeji Yussuff
(1942–2006)
1 January 19901 February 19922 years, 31 days
10
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Dada, AkinAir Marshal
Akin Dada
1 February 199217 September 1992229 days
11
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Femi, FemiAir Vice-Marshal
Femi John Femi
(born 1945)
17 September 199230 March 19963 years, 195 days
12
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Eduok, NsikakAir Marshal
Nsikak-Abasi Essien Eduok
(1947–2021)
30 March 199629 May 19993 years, 60 days
13
Senisaacalfa.jpg
Alfa, IsaacAir Marshal
Isaac Mohammed Alfa
(born 1950)
29 May 199924 April 20011 year, 330 days
14
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Wuyep, JonahAir Marshal
Jonah Domfa Wuyep
(born 1948)
24 April 20011 June 20065 years, 38 days
15
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Dike, PaulAir Marshal
Paul Dike
(born 1950)
later Chief of Defence Staff
1 June 200620 August 20082 years, 80 days
16
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Petinrin, OluseyiAir Marshal
Oluseyi Petinrin
(born 1955)
later Chief of Defence Staff
20 August 20088 September 20102 years, 19 days
17
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Umar, MohammedAir Marshal
Mohammed Dikko Umar
(born 1955)
8 September 20104 October 20122 years, 26 days
18
Alex Sabundu Badeh's Personal Picture.jpg
Badeh, AlexAir Marshal
Alex Sabundu Badeh
(1957–2018)
later Chief of Defence Staff
4 October 201220 January 20141 year, 108 days
19
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Amosu, AdesolaAir Marshal
Adesola Nunayon Amosu
(born 1958)
20 January 201421 July 20151 year, 182 days
20
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Abubakar, SadiqueAir Marshal
Sadique Abubakar
(born 1960)
21 July 201529 January 20215 years, 192 days
21
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Amao, IsiakaAir Marshal
Isiaka Oladayo Amao
(born 1965)
29 January 202122 June 20232 years, 144 days [2]
22
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Abubakar, HasanAir Marshal
Hasan Abubakar
(born 1970)
22 June 2023Incumbent1 year, 327 days

References

  1. "Former Chief of The Air Staff". Nigerian Air Force. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  2. "Buhari don sack im service chiefs, appoint new ones - see di new ones here". BBC News Pidgin.