The Nigerian Army has officially appointed Lieutenant Colonel Yahaya Mohammed Abdullahi as the new commander of the Nigerian contingent serving under the Economic Community of West African States Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG) following a formal change of command ceremony held on Monday.
The ceremony marked the end of the one-year peacekeeping tour of the outgoing commander, Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Agada, who handed over leadership of Nigerian Contingent 10 to Lt. Col. Abdullahi, now commander of Nigerian Contingent 11.
The handover symbolised the formal transfer of authority and responsibility, underscoring the Nigerian Army’s continued commitment to the ECOWAS mission aimed at promoting peace, security and stability in The Gambia

In his farewell remarks, Lt. Col. Agada congratulated his successor on the appointment and expressed confidence in his leadership.

I congratulate Lieutenant Colonel Yahaya Mohammed Abdullahi on his appointment and have every confidence in his ability to lead the contingent with professionalism, dedication and distinction,” Agada said.

He also urged officers and soldiers to give the new commander their full support.

The success of any commander depends largely on the commitment, discipline and cooperation of the personnel under his command. I therefore urge all officers and soldiers to accord him their unwavering loyalty and support,” he added

The ceremony was attended by officers and soldiers of the Nigerian contingent, who witnessed the symbolic transfer of command, reflecting what the Army described as the professionalism, discipline and continuity of Nigeria’s peace support operations.

Following the event, members of the outgoing Nigerian Contingent 10 departed The Gambia for Nigeria after successfully completing their one-year peacekeeping mission under the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia.