By Benjamin Christian
Fresh details have emerged about Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (retd.), the former Chief of Naval Staff, whose name has been linked to the controversial Gaduwa land that triggered a confrontation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and soldiers in Abuja.
The incident unfolded when Wike led officials of the Federal Capital Territory Development Administration (FCDA) to inspect Plot 1946 in the Gaduwa District, only to be stopped by armed soldiers reportedly guarding the property.
Investigations reveal that the land is connected to Vice Admiral Gambo, Nigeria’s 21st Chief of Naval Staff, who served between January 2021 and June 2023. His distinguished military career and academic background have come under renewed public scrutiny following the confrontation.
Gambo, a native of Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano State, was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021. A career naval officer, he is a hydrographer by training and holds several advanced degrees, including a Master’s in Transport Management from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso.
He is also a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management and the Nigerian Hydrographic Society. During his tenure, Gambo was credited with initiating key maritime security operations and reforms in the Nigerian Navy.
The Gaduwa property dispute, however, has brought his name back into the headlines, as soldiers reportedly cited his ownership while blocking Wike’s access to the land.
As the FCT Administration insists that no individual, regardless of rank, is above the law, the matter continues to raise questions about military involvement in civil land administration within the capital.
