BASIC EDUCATION
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas was born on 20 September 1969 and hails from Nassarawa LGA of Kano State. He enlisted into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) on 12 September 1987 and was commissioned Sub-Lieutenant on 10 September 1993 as a member of NDA 40 Regular Course with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry. The newly appointed Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS)began his early education at Gwagwarwa Primary School Kano, then proceeded to Airforce Military School Jos from 1981 – 1986 before his admission into NDA into 1987.
MILITARY COURSES ATTENDED AND QUALIFICATIONS
The newly appointed CNS is an Above Water Warfare (AWW) specialist officer who has attended several military courses at home and abroad including 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 respectively. From January to December 2003, he attended the Officers’ Long Course (OLC XII) at NNS QUORRA Apapa Lagos specializing in Above Water Warfare. Rear Admiral Abbas also attended the United Nations Military Observer Course in Tanzania in 2009 and in 2014 he graduated from the prestigious National Defence College (NDC) Abuja as a member of NDC Course 23.
APPOINTMENTS HELD
The newly appointed CNS has held several appointments in the Nigerian Navy. After his commissioning in 1993, he served onboard various NN ships as a Watch-Keeping Officer. Some of the ships include; NNS ARADU, NNS DAMISA and NNS AYAM. Rear Admiral Idi Abbas later served as Naval Assistant to the Deputy Commandant of Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji in 1998. Between 1999 and 2002, he underwent Mandatory Military courses and retuned to NNS DAMISA intermittently as a Watch-Keeping Officer. In January 2004, he was appointed Staff Officer III, Marine Services at Naval Headquarters (NHQ) and later Gunnery Officer NNS OHUE in 2006. In 2007, he became an instructor at NNS QUORRA and in 2008, he was appointed Commanding Officer Burma Battalion of NDA.
Rear Admiral Abbas later served as Base Administrative Officer of NNS PATHFINDER and Naval contingent Commander of Joint Task Force Operation SAFE HAVEN in 2010 and 2012 respectively. He was the Maritime Guard Commander (MGC) of NIMASA in 2015 and Commander Task Group (CTG) of NN Operation Tsare-Teku in 2017. Between 2018 and 2022, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas steadily climbed the ladder of appointments in Central Naval Command first as the Command Admin Officer (CAO) then as the Chief Staff Officer (CSO) culminating in his appointment as Flag Officer Commanding (FOC CNC) of Central Naval Command and within this period, he also served as Commander NNS VICTORY, Calabar in 2020. In July 2023, he was appointed Chief of Naval Safety and Standard (CNASS) at NHQ and in February 2024, he became the Chief of Defence Civil Military Relations (CDCMR) and Defence Headquarters (DHQ). In January 2025, Rear Admiral Abbas was deployed to the Nigerian Army Heritage Centre as a Senior Research Fellow, the appointment he held before his elevation to the post of 25th Chief of Naval Staff, Nigerian Navy.
PROMOTIONS
The newly appointed CNS is a thoroughbred professional Seaman Executive Officer who rose through all the ranks in NN before his appointment. He became a Midshipman on 18 September 1996, 2001
and 2006 respectively he was promoted to the ranks of Lieutenant, Lieutenant-Commander and Commander. He became a Navy Captain in September 2011, a Commodore in 2016 and a Rear Admiral on 10 September 2020.
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
In the course of his distinguished career, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas has earned many prestigious awards 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)
• Defence General Staff Medal (DGSM)
He is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) and International Institute of Professional Security (IIPS).
HOBBIES
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas enjoys playing hockey and driving.
MARITAL STATUS
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas is a practicing Muslim who is happily married to Mrs Aisha Abbasand the marriage is blessed with 2 boys.