STATE OF ORIGIN: SOKOTO STATE
He speaks Arabic, English language, Hausa and Spanish fluently.
He holds a Bachelors of Arts Degree in History and Masters Degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy.
Lieutenant 22nd September 1990
Captain 1994
Major 1998.
Lieutenant Colonel 2003.
Colonel 2008
Brigadier General 2013
Appointments held include:
Platoon Commander 181 Mechanised Battalion.
Platoon Commander 82 Mechanised Battalion.
Company Second in Command 81 Battalion.
Aide de Camp to Kano State Administrator.
Company Second in Command 20 Battalion
Commanding Officer 7 Battalion.
General Staff Officer Grade 2 Army Headquarters Department of Training and Operations (Field Exercises).
Staff Officer Grade 2 (Administration) Headquarters Guards Brigade.
Staff Officer Grade 1 Headquarters Guards Brigade.
Garrison Commander, Guards Brigade.
Directing Staff, Armed Forces Command and Staff College.
Deputy Director Military Secretary 3, Department of Military Secretary (Army).
Deputy Director Military Secretary 2, Department of Military Secretary (Army).
Deputy Director Research and Development, Army Headquarters Department of Policy and Plans.
Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Operation Pulo Shield.
Deputy Military Secretary 1, Department of Military Secretary (Army).
Principal General Staff Officer to the Honourable Minister of Defence, Ministry of Defence.
Commander 4 Brigade Nigerian Army.
Commander 29 Task Force Brigade, Operation LAFIYA DOLE.
Director Manpower, Army Headquarters Department of Administration.
Military Secretary (Army), Department of Military Secretary (Army).
General Officer Commanding 1 Division Nigerian Army.
Theatre Commander, Operation LAFIYA DOLE.
Theatre Commander Operation HADIN KAI.
He has attended the following courses:
Young Officers Course Infantry.
Machine Gun Officers Course.
Air Defence Platoon Commanders Course.
Basic Range Management Course.
Junior Course.
Company Commanders Course.
Senior Course.
Commanding Officers Course.
National Defence Course in Chile.
He is well decorated with so many honours and awards as follows:
Forces Service Star (FSS).
Meritorious Service Star (MSS).
Distinguished Service Star (DSS).
Grand Service Star (GSS).
Passed Staff Course Dagger (+).
Fellow National Defence College Chile.
Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group Medal (ECOMOG Medal).
Command Medal (CM).
Field Command Medal (FCM).
General Operations Medal (GOM).
Silver Jubilee Medal (SJM).
Golden Jubilee Medal (GJM).
He is happily married and the marriage is blessed with 4 children. At his leisure, he enjoys reading ,travelling, cracking jokes and listening to local music.
The new COAS was born on January 5, 1966, in Sifawa, Bodinga Local Government Area of Sokoto state, but hails from neighbouring Zamfara State.
He is a member of the 37 Regular Course of the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).
Major-General Yahaya started his cadet training on 27 September 1985 and was commissioned into the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps on 22 September 1990.
He has held several appointments including Staff, Instructional and Command.
Notable among the appointments held by the new COAS are Garrison Commander Headquarters Guards Brigade, Directing Staff at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Deputy Director Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary, Deputy Director Army Research and Development and the Chief of Staff, Headquarters Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield.
He also served as the Principal General Staff Officer (PGSO) to the Honourable Minister of Defence, the Commander, Headquarters 4 Brigade and 29 Task Force Brigade (Operation Zaman Lafiya), Director Manpower at the Army Headquarters, Military Secretary, Army Headquarters and General Officer Commanding (GOC) Headquarters 1 Division of the Nigerian Army.
Yahaya then the Ag. Military Secretary, was promoted to the rank of Major-General on November 20th, 2017.
Major-General Yahaya is also a proud holder of several honors and awards, some of which include: Forces Service Star, Meritorious Service Star, Distinguished Service Star, Grand Service Star, Passed staff course (Dagger), National Defence Course (Chile), Economic Community of West Africa State Monitoring Group Medal, Command Medal, Field Command Medal, General Operations Medal, Silver Jubilee Medal and Golden Jubilee Medal.
He is happily married and blessed with children.
