FULL LIST – Names of Nigerian Federal Chiefs of Staff from 1960 to Date

1. Brigadier Babafemi Ogundipe served as the first Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters from 16 January 1966 to 29 July 1966 under Major General Johnson Aguiyi Ironsi, making him the de facto second in command of the military government.

2. Vice Admiral Joseph Edet Akinwale Wey served as the second Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters from 1 August 1966 to 29 July 1975 under General Yakubu Gowon, effectively serving as Gowon’s second in command.

3. General Olusegun Obasanjo served as the third Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters from 29 July 1975 to 13 February 1976 under General Murtala Mohammed, before becoming Head of State following Murtala’s assassination.

4. General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua became the fourth Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters on 13 February 1976 and served until 30 September 1979 under General Olusegun Obasanjo, functioning as the de facto second in command of the military government.

5. Major General Tunde Idiagbon served as the sixth Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters from 31 December 1983 to 27 August 1985 under Major General Muhammadu Buhari, acting as Buhari’s second in command.

6. Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe became the Chief of General Staff in August 1985 after General Ibrahim Babangida overthrew Buhari, serving as Babangida’s second in command until October 1986.

7. Admiral Augustus Aikhomu served as Chief of General Staff from October 1986 to August 1993 under General Ibrahim Babangida, functioning as the de facto Vice President of the military government.

8. Lieutenant General Oladipo Diya served as Chief of General Staff from 17 November 1993 to 21 December 1997 under General Sani Abacha, and was the de facto second in command of the Abacha government.

9. Vice Admiral Mike Okhai Akhigbe served as Chief of General Staff from 8 June 1998 to 29 May 1999 under General Abdulsalami Abubakar, the final military Head of State before the return to civilian rule.

10. Major General Abdullahi Mohammed became the first Chief of Staff to the President on 29 May 1999 under President Olusegun Obasanjo, and continued in the position after Umaru Musa Yar’Adua became president in 2007, leaving office on 2 June 2008.

11. Gbolade Osinowo served as Chief of Staff to President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua from 2 June 2008 until 18 September 2008, when Yar’Adua abolished the office and relied instead on a group of close advisers.

12. Chief Mike Oghiadomhe served as Chief of Staff to President Goodluck Jonathan from 17 May 2010 until 10 February 2014, when he resigned from the position.

13. General Jones Arogbofa served as Chief of Staff to President Goodluck Jonathan from 18 February 2014 until 29 May 2015, when Jonathan’s administration ended.

14. Abba Kyari served as Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari from 27 August 2015 until his death on 17 April 2020, after which the position was filled by Ibrahim Gambari.

15. Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari served as Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari from 13 May 2020 until 29 May 2023, when Buhari’s administration ended.