There is unrest among some military officers after Colonel Nurudeen Yusuf, the Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was promoted to Brigadier-General.
Some officers told reporters that the promotion was “unusual, especially in a democracy.” They said that while junior officers like Lieutenants, Captains, Majors, and Lieutenant Colonels may be promoted for excellent performance, promoting someone to Brigadier-General directly by the president is “abnormal and sets a bad precedent.”
President Tinubu approved Yusuf’s promotion in a letter dated December 12, 2025, sent to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Wahid Shaibu. The letter, signed by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, confirmed the promotion. The NSA and the Nigerian Army have not officially confirmed the promotion.
Yusuf became the president’s ADC on May 1, 2023, about a month before Tinubu’s inauguration. At that time, he was a Lieutenant Colonel and was promoted to Colonel. His new promotion to Brigadier-General comes less than a year after he became a Colonel, which has surprised many in the military.
One officer said this fast promotion is unusual. In the past, officers like Brig.-Gen. ML Abubakar and Col Giwa Amu followed a traditional path: they spent years in each rank, attended military colleges, and were promoted alongside their course mates. Only in rare cases, like during General Abdulsalami Abubakar’s time, did an ADC become a Brigadier-General quickly.
Some of Yusuf’s peers have expressed frustration, calling his rapid promotion unprecedented and accusing the president of favoritism. A source in the presidency said the promotion was meant to align Yusuf’s rank with other senior security officials in the Presidential Villa. For example, the president’s Chief Personal Security Officer and Chief Security Officer were recently promoted to ranks equivalent to Brigadier-General in the police and State Security Service.
However, some military officers argue this breaks long-standing traditions. They say that becoming a Brigadier-General usually requires years of service, professional courses at the Army War College and National Defence College, and approval through established procedures. Promoting someone in less than a year as Colonel, without these courses, risks undermining discipline and morale in the army.
Another concern is the procedure: the promotion request went from the president to the NSA and then directly to the Chief of Army Staff, bypassing the Chief of Defence Staff and the Minister of Defence. Officers say this is not normal.
Traditionally, to become a Brigadier-General in the Nigerian Army, an officer must:
- Complete the War College or Senior Staff Course (about one year)
- Complete the National Defence College or equivalent strategic course (about one year)
- Spend at least four to five years as a Colonel
Many officers feel that Yusuf’s rapid promotion does not follow these rules and may create resentment within the army.
