Buhari appoints new ADC as ex-occupant leaves for Chile in February

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Lt-Colonel Yusuf Muktar Dodo, the Academy Adjutant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), as his new ADC.

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Lieutenant-Colonel Yusuf Muktar Dodo, the Academy Adjutant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), as his new Aide-de-Camp (ADC). A presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, confirmed the development on Saturday.

His appointment came few days after President Buhari named new service chiefs, including Major-General Lucky Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General Ibrahim Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff; and Air-Vice Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao, Chief of Air Staff.

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The new ADC takes over from Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Abubakar, who is due for the rank of Brigadier General after completing promotional course in Chile.

The President’s Aide-De-Camp (ADC), Colonel Mohammed Lawal Abubakar, has been nominated to attend a five months Strategic and Defence Course at Santiago Chile (from 8 March – 30 July 2021).

The course is a prerequisite for his next promotion to the rank of Brigadier-General in the last quarter 2021 and posting outside the shores of the country as a Defence Attachee/Adviser in keeping with the customs and tradition of recognising Officers that served as Aide-De- Camp to the President and concluded tour of duty without any blemish.

Abubakar, who will by the end of February, be the longest serving ADC to a civilian president (having served in that position for almost six years), and the second longest serving ADC in the history of Armed Forces of Nigeria after late Colonel Walbe who served General Yakubu Gowon for nine (9) years.

The 48 year-old ADC, who had served in various Army units and formations within and outside Nigeria at different capacities also recommended his successor by nominating three seasoned and trustworthy Army Officers to President Buhari, and the Commander-in-Chief picked Lt. Col Yusuf Muktar Dodo, an Academy Adjutant of Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA), who will understudy Abubakar for three weeks to learn the ropes of his new assignment, conclude handing/taking over process and daily briefings accordingly.

Abubakar will leave for Santiago Chile on March 8th.

Duties of an ADC

The office of ADC to the President statutorily provides security and protects the President and his family in conjunction with other security agencies.

Customarily, the ADC attends to the personal needs of the president and other matters regarding his functions as the Head of the Armed Forces and the well-being of his family.

Officers who are to be nominated to be ADC to the President, must be loyal, of high morale standard, impeccable character, courage, knowledgeable as well as high level of integrity.

Abubakar, who is a tested and experienced commander, trained and discipline Instructor, Security manager and a talented Investigator, was born on the 28th March 1973 at Wusasa Zaria.

The President, who said in Lawal’s Annual Performance Evaluation Report that the Officer is discipline, highly committed and loyal Officer, sociable and amiable to his superiors and subordinates alike, recommended him for promotion to the rank of Brigadier-General when due in October 2021 accordingly.