Despite Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, no fewer than 500 senior military officers, including Major Generals, Brigadier Generals, Rear Admirals, and Air Vice Marshals, have been forced into early retirement following multiple changes in service chiefs under the Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Tinubu administrations.
The mass retirements — spanning the Army, Navy, and Air Force between 2015 and 2023 — stem from the long-standing military tradition of disengaging senior officers who are either senior to or of the same course as newly appointed service chiefs.
Military authorities have consistently defended the policy as necessary to maintain discipline, hierarchy, and operational efficiency, but growing voices within and outside the military have begun questioning its impact on experience retention and institutional stability.
Over 500 Officers Disengaged — Sources Say Figure May Exceed 900
Data compiled from official releases and media reports indicate that more than 500 top officers have left service in the past eight years. However, military insiders told Emmynet24 news media that the real figure may be closer to 900, though the Defence Headquarters could not be immediately reached to confirm the claim.
The first wave of retirements followed former President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of new service chiefs in July 2015 — Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai (Army), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (Air Force), and Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Navy).
Over 100 senior Army officers were retired at the time, alongside more than 20 senior naval officers, including at least one Rear Admiral.
Another major shake-up came in 2021, after Buhari appointed new service chiefs — Air Marshal Isiaka Amao (Air Force), the late Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru (Army), and Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (Navy) — leading to the retirement of over 200 senior officers across the services.
A similar wave occurred following the death of Gen. Attahiru and the appointment of Gen. Farouk Yahaya, who was junior to several generals. His emergence triggered the voluntary exit of over 20 generals from Courses 35 and 36.
Tinubu’s Administration Continues the Tradition
President Bola Tinubu maintained the same succession pattern upon assuming office. On June 19, 2023, he appointed Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja (Army), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar (Air Force), and Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla (Navy) as new service chiefs — a move that prompted another mass retirement.
That reshuffle saw 51 Army generals, 49 Air Force officers, and 17 naval officers leave service.
Last Friday, Tinubu again announced a major leadership shake-up, appointing Gen. Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff, Maj.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sunday Aneke as Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff.
Military sources said about 60 additional top officers are expected to be affected if the long-standing retirement convention is maintained.
Experts Divided Over Tradition
Retired senior officers have expressed divergent views on the recurring wave of retirements.
Gen. Ishola Williams (retd.) faulted what he described as “arbitrary sackings,” likening them to military-era practices.
“Once the government replaces the service chiefs, it means that the set of former chiefs and those senior to them must retire. It’s been happening for too long, and it’s bad for the system,” Williams said.
He suggested a restructuring that allows the Chief of Defence Staff to act as the principal staff officer to the President, while the service chiefs report to him — creating a clearer line of succession.
Calls for Deep Reforms
On his part, Gen. Aliyu Momoh (retd.) backed Tinubu’s decision to shake up the military hierarchy but urged him to “go deeper” by addressing entrenched cabals within the armed forces.
“The President should pull out all the cabals — both in and outside the military — if we want real progress. Without that, we’ll keep repeating the same cycle,” Momoh warned.
Brig.-Gen. Adewinbi (retd.), however, defended the tradition as part of military culture.
“There’s nothing we can do about it. It’s a tradition. The President is the Commander-in-Chief and has the prerogative to appoint who he deems fit,” he said, urging the government to utilize the expertise of retired officers through a reserve system.
‘System Is Structurally Flawed’ — Ex-Air Force Spokesman
Group Capt. Sadique Shehu (retd.), a former Air Force spokesperson, described the frequent retirements as “unsustainable.”
He disclosed that as of 2022, the Nigerian military had about 960 generals for a total strength of roughly 235,000 personnel — nearly the same number of generals as the U.S. military, which has over 1.3 million personnel.
“That’s excessive. A general here might barely have five soldiers under him. The problem begins with overproduction of generals,” Shehu said.
He blamed poor manpower planning and political interference for the rank inflation, urging the National Assembly to legislate clearer rules on service chief appointments and tenure.
‘Routine but Necessary’ — Other Officers Say
However, some retired officers argue that the retirements are necessary for order and progression within the ranks.
Maj.-Gen. Lasisi Abidoye (retd.) explained that natural attrition — through retirement, resignation, and death — ensures that only a small fraction of each course reaches the general rank.
“Routine retirement is healthy for the military. When a service chief stays too long, all his juniors are stagnated. Even the chief loses creativity after three years,” he said.
Similarly, Maj.-Gen. P.J.O. Bojie (retd.), a former Defence Intelligence Agency director, described the mass exits as a “routine and expected exercise.”
“It’s normal and in line with military tradition,” Bojie noted.
Summary
While the Ministry of Defence and Defence Headquarters have yet to issue official figures, the recurring wave of retirements continues to spark debate over the balance between hierarchy and institutional continuity within Nigeria’s Armed Forces.
Analysts warn that unless reforms are implemented to reduce rank inflation and depoliticize appointments, the cycle of mass retirements and leadership disruptions may persist — even as the nation grapples with persistent security challenges.
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