On October 24, 2025, the Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Rear Admiral Idi Abbas as the new Chief of Naval Staff, following the retirement of Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla.
A statement from the Nigerian Navy described Rear Admiral Abbas as a seasoned officer who “brings a distinguished record of service and leadership to the Nigerian Navy.”
Early Life and Education
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas was born on September 20, 1969, and hails from Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State in North-West Nigeria
He began his early education at Gwagwarwa Primary School, Kano, and proceeded to the Air Force Military School, Jos, from 1981 to 1986, before gaining admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in 1987.
Rear Admiral Abbas was commissioned Sub-Lieutenant on September 10, 1993, as a member of NDA 40 Regular Course, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry.
Military Courses and Qualifications
Rear Admiral Abbas is an Above Water Warfare (AWW) specialist who has attended several military courses both in Nigeria and abroad.
His training includes:
Sub-Lieutenant Technical Course at NNS QUORRA (1994)
Junior and Senior Staff Courses at Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji (2001 and 2005)
Officers’ Long Course (OLC XII) at NNS QUORRA, Apapa Lagos (2003)
United Nations Military Observer Course in Tanzania (2009)
National Defence College (NDC), Abuja, Course 23 (2014)
Appointments Held;
Over the years, Rear Admiral Abbas has served in various key positions across the Nigerian Navy.
He started his career onboard several naval ships as a Watch-Keeping Officer, including NNS ARADU, NNS DAMISA, and NNS AYAM.
He later held positions such as:
Naval Assistant to the Deputy Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji (1998)
Staff Officer III, Marine Services, Naval Headquarters (2004)
Gunnery Officer, NNS OHUE (2006)
Instructor, NNS QUORRA (2007)
Commanding Officer, Burma Battalion, NDA (2008)
Base Administrative Officer, NNS PATHFINDER
Naval Contingent Commander, Joint Task Force, Operation SAFE HAVEN (2010–2012)
Maritime Guard Commander, NIMASA (2015)
Commander Task Group, Operation TSARE-TEKU (2017)
Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command (2022)
In July 2023, Rear Admiral Abbas was appointed Chief of Naval Safety and Standards (CNASS) at Naval
Headquarters, and in February 2024, became Chief of Defence Civil-Military Relations (CDCMR) at Defence Headquarters.
Before his elevation as the 25th Chief of Naval Staff, he served as Senior Research Fellow, Nigerian Army Heritage Centre, in January 2025.
Promotions
Rear Admiral Abbas rose through the ranks with dedication and excellence;
Midshipman – 1996
Lieutenant – 2001
Lieutenant Commander – 2006
Commander – 2006
Navy Captain – 2011
Commodore – 2016
Rear Admiral – September 10, 2020
Awards and Honours
His distinguished service has earned him several honours, including;
Passed Staff Course (PSC)
Fellow Defence College (FDC)
Forces Service Star (FSS)
Meritorious Service Star (MSS)
Distinguished Service Star (DSS)
Grand Service Star (GSS)
Defence General Staff Medal (DGSM)
He is also a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) and the International Institute of Professional Security (IIPS).
FOLLOW US ON:
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
PINTEREST
TIKTOK
YOUTUBE
LINKEDIN
TUMBLR
INSTAGRAM
