Nigerian President Jonathan Names New Heads of Country's Military, Police

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan appointed new heads for the army, navy, air force and police, completing an overhaul of the security services he inherited from his predecessor, Umaru Yar’Adua.

Air Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin was named chief of defense staff, with Major-General O.A. Ihejirika named chief of army staff, according to a statement posted on the presidency’s website today. Rear Admiral O.S. Ibrahim is chief of navy and Air Vice-Marshal M.D. Umar is head of the Air Force, while Uba Ringim becomes the Inspector General of Police, it said.

Nigeria’s state security police will now be under the charge of Ita Effiong, according to the statement. The changes must be approved by the Senate, the presidency said.

With the appointments, Jonathan has changed all the heads of the security services in place when he succeeded Yar’Adua, who died in May. The changes come four months ahead of general elections in Africa’s top oil-producing nation.

Jonathan hasn’t ruled out running in the elections, amid risks of sectarian clashes in the oil-rich delta, his main support base, and in the mainly Muslim north, where he faces opposition.

To contact the reporter on this story: Dulue Mbachu in Abuja at dmbachu@bloomberg.net.

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