By Isiaka Mustapha, Chief Operating Officer/Editor-In-Chief, People’s Securitry Monitor

Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, born on 20 September 1969 in Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State, is Nigeria’s 25th Chief of the Naval Staff. His appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on 24 October 2025 crowns an illustrious military career spanning more than three decades, defined by professionalism, discipline, and operational excellence in maritime defence.

He began his early education at Gwagwarwa Primary School in Kano before proceeding to Air Force Military School, Jos, from 1981 to 1986. His passion for military service led him to the Nigerian Defence Academy, where he was admitted on 12 September 1987 as a member of the 40 Regular Course. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry and was commissioned Sub-Lieutenant on 10 September 1993.

A specialist in Above Water Warfare, Rear Admiral Abbas has attended numerous professional courses at home and abroad. These include the Sub-Lieutenant Technical Course at NNS Quorra in 1994, the Junior and Senior Staff Courses at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, in 2001 and 2005, and the Officers’ Long Course XII at NNS Quorra, Apapa, Lagos, in 2003, where he specialised in Above Water Warfare. In 2009, he completed the United Nations Military Observer Course in Tanzania, and in 2014, he graduated from the National Defence College, Abuja, as a member of Course 23.

Since his commissioning in 1993, Rear Admiral Abbas has served in several critical capacities across the Nigerian Navy. His early career saw him posted as a Watchkeeping Officer aboard NNS ARADU, NNS DAMISA, and NNS AYAM. He later served as Naval Assistant to the Deputy Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, in 1998, and after completing further mandatory courses, returned to NNS DAMISA. In January 2004, he was appointed Staff Officer III, Marine Services, at Naval Headquarters and later served as Gunnery Officer onboard NNS OHUE in 2006.

In 2007, he became an instructor at NNS Quorra and the following year was appointed Commanding Officer, Burma Battalion, at the Nigerian Defence Academy. His subsequent postings reflected his growing reputation for administrative precision and operational leadership. He served as Base Administrative Officer, NNS Pathfinder, in 2010 and later as Naval Contingent Commander with the Joint Task Force, Operation SAFE HAVEN, in 2012. In 2015, he was appointed Maritime Guard Commander of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, and in 2017, he became Commander, Task Group of Nigerian Navy Operation Tsare-Teku.

Between 2018 and 2022, Rear Admiral Abbas steadily advanced through the Central Naval Command, serving first as Command Administrative Officer, then as Chief Staff Officer, and finally as Flag Officer Commanding. During this period, he also served as Commander, NNS Victory, Calabar, in 2020. In July 2023, he was appointed Chief of Naval Safety and Standards at Naval Headquarters. In February 2024, he became Chief of Defence Civil-Military Relations at Defence Headquarters, and in January 2025, he was posted to the Nigerian Army Heritage Centre as a Senior Research Fellow, a position he held until his elevation to Chief of the Naval Staff.

A thoroughbred professional and accomplished Seaman Executive Officer, Rear Admiral Abbas has risen through all ranks of the Nigerian Navy. He became a Midshipman on 18 September 1996 and was promoted to Lieutenant in 2001, Lieutenant Commander in 2006, and Commander the same year. His career progression continued with promotion to Navy Captain in 2011, Commodore in 2016, and Rear Admiral on 10 September 2020.

Over the years, he has earned multiple service decorations, 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), and Defence General Staff Medal (dgsm). He is also a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management and the International Institute of Professional Security.

Rear Admiral Idi Abbas is a practicing Muslim, married to Mrs. Aisha Abbas, and their union is blessed with two sons. In his spare time, he enjoys playing hockey and driving.

His appointment as Chief of the Naval Staff reflects President Tinubu’s confidence in his integrity, discipline, and experience. A career naval officer with an unbroken record of service and leadership, Rear Admiral Abbas represents a new phase in the Navy’s modernization and professionalization agenda. His decades of operational experience, deep understanding of maritime security, and commitment to excellence mark him as a steady and capable hand at the helm of the Nigerian Navy.