Tinubu Approves Rapid Promotion of His ADC to Brigadier-General, Triggering Unease Within Nigerian Army
Tinubu Approves Rapid Promotion of His ADC to Brigadier-General, Triggering Unease Within Nigerian Army
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the promotion of his Aide-de-Camp (ADC), Nurudeen Alowonle Yusuf, to the rank of brigadier-general, a decision that has reportedly caused disquiet and internal complaints within the Nigerian Army. The approval was formally conveyed in a letter dated December 12, 2025, addressed to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Wahid Shaibu, and signed by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The promotion has attracted attention largely because it represents Mr Yusuf’s second elevation within a 12-month period. He was only promoted to the rank of colonel in January 2025, making the latest advancement to brigadier-general unusually rapid by conventional military standards. Such accelerated progression is rare in the Nigerian Army, where promotions to senior officer and general ranks typically follow strict timelines, seniority rules, and completion of required professional courses.
According to reports, the development has sparked murmuring among serving officers, including some of Yusuf’s coursemates, who are said to be unhappy with what they perceive as preferential treatment linked to his position as the President’s ADC. Some officers privately described the promotion as extraordinary and difficult to justify under normal military promotion procedures, raising concerns about morale and fairness within the ranks.
Neither the Presidency nor the Nigerian Army has issued a detailed public explanation addressing the concerns surrounding the promotion. However, a source within the Presidency offered contextual justification, pointing out that similar promotions had recently been approved for senior security aides to the President from other services. In August, the Nigeria Police Force promoted the President’s Chief Personal Security Officer, Usman Shugaba, from deputy commissioner of police to commissioner of police. Likewise, the Department of State Services (DSS/SSS) recently elevated the President’s Chief Security Officer, Adegboyega Fasasi, to the rank of director.
According to the source, these police and DSS ranks are considered equivalent to that of a brigadier-general in the Nigerian Army. Without a corresponding promotion, Yusuf would have remained subordinate in rank to his counterparts within the President’s security detail, a situation the source suggested could undermine hierarchy, coordination, and esprit de corps within the Villa’s protective team.
Nurudeen Yusuf was appointed ADC to President Tinubu on May 1, 2023, roughly four weeks before the President’s inauguration. At the time of his appointment, he held the rank of lieutenant-colonel. His progression from lieutenant
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