President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, appointed Major General Farouk Yahaya as the new Chief of Army Staff.
The new Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Faruk Yahaya was born on 5 January 1966 in Sifawa, Bodinga local government area of Sokoto state.
A member of the 37 Regular Course of the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Yahaya started his cadet training on 27 September 1985 and was commissioned into the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps on 22 September 1990.
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He has held several appointments including Staff, Instructional and Command notable among the appointments held by the new COAS are Garrison Commander Headquarters Guards Brigade, Directing Staff at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Deputy Director Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary, Deputy Director Army Research and Development and the Chief of Staff, Headquarters Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield.
Major General Yahaya also served as the Principal General Staff Officer (PGSO) to the Honourable Minister of Defence, the Commander, Headquarters 4 Brigade and 29 Task Force Brigade (Operation Zaman Lafiya).
He was also Director Manpower at the Army Headquarters, Military Secretary, Army Headquarters and General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division of the Nigerian Army.
Until his appointment as the COAS, Maj Gen Yahaya was the Theatre Commander Operation HADIN KAI, responsible for Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency operations in North East Nigeria.
The new COAS is a proud holder of several honours and awards, some of which include, Forces Service Star, Meritorious Service Star, Distinguished Service Star, Grand Service Star, Passed staff course (Dagger), National Defence Course (Chile), Economic Community of West Africa State Monitoring Group Medal, Command Medal, Field Command Medal, General Operations Medal, Silver Jubilee Medal and Golden Jubilee Medal.
He is happily married and blessed with children.
WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT HIM
Some military senior officers have attested that the new Army Chief is a thorough bred professional who, over the years, has Distinguished himself, including serving as two-time Brigade Commander in Benin and North East, military Secretary and his assignment as the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole.
According to one of them, “You need to see his profile that he is a rounded professional. He is charismatic and loved by everyone. The new COAS is very fair, firm and a team player.
“He has distinguished himself as one of the flying stars in his course. He is very brilliant and number three as he is very intelligent and reliable person.”
Another officer said that “this is the best decision so far and we are happy. Thumps up to him”.
“After all said and done, nobody could influence the president’s decision on the appointment of COAS any longer… Faruk Yahaya is definitely a great choice…and now, sanity can be restored once more in the Nigerian Army.”
ROLE CALL OF HIS RISING RANKS
- Lieutenant 27th September 1990
- Captain 27th September 1994
- Major 27th September 1998.
- Lieutenant Colonel 27th September 2003.
- Colonel 27th September 2008
- Brigadier General 27th September 2013
- Major General 27th September 2017.
Appointments held include:
- Platoon Commander 181 Mechanised Battalion.
- Platoon Commander 82 Mechanised Battalion.
- Company Second in Command 81 Battalion.
- Aide de Camp to Kano State Administrator.
- Company Second in Command 20 Battalion
- Commanding Officer 7 Battalion.
- General Staff Officer Grade 2 Army Headquarters Department of Training and Operations (Field Exercises).
- Staff Officer Grade 2 (Administration) Headquarters Guards Brigade.
- Staff Officer Grade 1 Headquarters Guards Brigade.
- Garrison Commander, Guards Brigade.
- Directing Staff, Armed Forces Command and Staff College.
- Deputy Director Military Secretary 3, Department of Military Secretary (Army).
- Deputy Director Military Secretary 2, Department of Military Secretary (Army).
- Deputy Director Research and Development, Army Headquarters Department of Policy and Plans.
- Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Operation Pulo Shield.
- Deputy Military Secretary 1, Department of Military Secretary (Army).
- Principal General Staff Officer to the Honourable Minister of Defence, Ministry of Defence.
- Commander 4 Brigade Nigerian Army.
- Commander 29 Task Force Brigade, Operation LAFIYA DOLE.
- Director Manpower, Army Headquarters Department of Administration.
- Military Secretary (Army), Department of Military Secretary (Army).
- General Officer Commanding 1 Division Nigerian Army.
- Theatre Commander, Operation LAFIYA DOLE.
- Theatre Commander Operation HADIN KAI.
He has attended the following courses:
- Young Officers Course Infantry.
- Machine Gun Officers Course.
- Air Defence Platoon Commanders Course.
- Basic Range Management Course.
- Junior Course.
- Company Commanders Course.
- Senior Course.
- Commanding Officers Course.
- National Defence Course in Chile.
He has been decorated with so many honours and awards as follows:
- Forces Service Star (FSS).
- Meritorious Service Star (MSS).
- Distinguished Service Star (DSS).
- Grand Service Star (GSS).
- Passed Staff Course Dagger (+).
- Fellow National Defence College Chile.
- Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group Medal (ECOMOG Medal).
- Command Medal (CM).
- Field Command Medal (FCM).
- General Operations Medal (GOM).
- Silver Jubilee Medal (SJM).
- Golden Jubilee Medal (GJM).
He is happily married and the marriage is blessed with 4 children. At his leisure, he enjoys reading ,travelling, cracking jokes and listening to local music.
