<P> The Chief of Naval Staff is the highest ranking military officer of the Nigerian Navy . The position is often occupied by the most senior commissioned officer appointed by the Commander - in - Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. The Chief of Naval Staff reports to the Chief of Defence Staff, who also reports to the Defence Minister . The Statutory duty of the Officer is to formulate and execute policies towards the highest attainment of National Security and operational competence of the Nigerian Navy . The current Chief of Naval Staff is Ibok Ekwe Ibas who was appointed on July 13, 2015 by President Muhammadu Buhari to succeeded Usman Oyibe Jibrin . </P> <P> Table below is a chronological list of officers holding the position of Chief of Naval Staff (CNS). </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Officer </Th> <Th> Title </Th> <Th> Period Served </Th> <Th> Remarks </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Captain F.W. Skutil </Td> <Td> CNS </Td> <Td> 1956--1958 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Commodore A.R. Kennedy </Td> <Td> CNS </Td> <Td> 1958--1964 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Vice Commodore J.E.A. Wey OFR FSS </Td> <Td> CNS </Td> <Td> 1964--1973 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Vice Admiral N.B. Soroh MFR FSS IDC </Td> <Td> CNS </Td> <Td> 1973--1975 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Vice Admiral M.A Adelanwa GCON FSS rcds </Td> <Td> CNS </Td> <Td> 1975--1980 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Vice Admiral A.A. Aduwo CFR FSS FBIM </Td> <Td> CNS </Td> <Td> 1980 - 1983 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Rear Admiral A.A. Aikhomu FSS psc mni </Td> <Td> CNS </Td> <Td> 1984 - 1986 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Vice Admiral Patrick Koshoni FSS psc mni </Td> <Td> CNS </Td> <Td> 1986 - 1990 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Vice Admiral Murtala Nyako FSS psc mni </Td> <Td> CNS </Td> <Td> 1990 - 1992 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Vice Admiral D.P.E Omotsola FSS DSO psc rcds </Td> <Td> CNS </Td> <Td> 1992 - 1993 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Rear Admiral Suleiman Saidu FSS LSS MSS DSS rcds </Td> <Td> CNS </Td> <Td> September 1993 - November 1993 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Rear Admiral A.A. Madueke FSS DSS MRNI mni </Td> <Td> CNS </Td> <Td> 1993 - 1994 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Rear Admiral O.M Akhigbe FSS DSS psc mni </Td> <Td> CNS </Td> <Td> 1994 - 1998 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Vice Admiral J. Ayinla DSS psc Usnwc fwc GCON </Td> <Td> CNS </Td> <Td> 1998 - 1999 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Vice Admiral V.K. Ombu CFR mni </Td> <Td> CNS </Td> <Td> 1999 - 2001 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Vice Admiral S.O. Afolayan DSS psc fwc </Td> <Td> CNS </Td> <Td> 2001 - 2005 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Vice Admiral G.T.A. Adekeye DSS psc mirss mni </Td> <Td> CNS </Td> <Td> 2005 - 2008 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Vice Admiral I.I. Ibrahim CFR DSS psc fwc </Td> <Td> CNS </Td> <Td> 2008 - 2010 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Vice Admiral O.S. Ibrahim DSS psc rcds fwc LLB (Hons) MA </Td> <Td> CNS </Td> <Td> 2010 - 2012 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Vice Admiral D.J. Ezeoba GSS fwc Msc MRIN FCIS </Td> <Td> CNS </Td> <Td> 2012 - 2013 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Vice Admiral U.O. Jibrin GSS AM psc+ mni LLB PGCPA </Td> <Td> CNS </Td> <Td> 2013 - 2015 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Rear Admiral Ibok - Ete Ekwe Ibas </Td> <Td> CNS </Td> <Td> July 2015--</Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Officer </Th> <Th> Title </Th> <Th> Period Served </Th> <Th> Remarks </Th> </Tr>

Who was the first chief of naval staff in nigeria