The immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai (rtd), has been appointed Nigeria’s ambassador to Benin Republic.

President Buhari on January 25 replaced Buratai and the remaining service chiefs with fresh appointees. Shortly after the President on February 4, appointed the ex-service chiefs as non-career ambassadors.

The former service chiefs have now been deployed. At a brief ceremony in Abuja today Tuesday, June 22, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, presented letters of credence to the ex-service chiefs. While Buratai was deployed to Benin Republic, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin (rtd), former Chief of Defence Staff, was appointed the head of mission to Cameroon.

“The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Geoffrey Onyeama today 22 June 2021, presented Letters of Credence to the Ambassador-Designate of Nigeria to the Republic of Cameroon, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin (Retired) and the Ambassador-Designate of Nigeria to the Republic of Benin, Lt.Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai (Retired).”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs during the brief ceremony congratulated the immediate past service chiefs on their appointment by Mr. President and called on them to deploy their wealth of experience to promote Nigeria’s interest during their tour of duty in countries of accreditation,” a statement released by Kimiebi Ebienfa, information officer of the ministry read

The statement was however silent on the postings of the other former Service chiefs, Vice Admiral Ibok- Ette Ibas (retired) former Chief of Naval Staff; Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar (retired), ex-Chief of Air Staff and Air Vice Marshal Muhammad S. Usman (Rtd), former Chief of Defense Intelligence.