Gibson Jalo

Lieutenant General Gibson Sanda Jalo CFR, FSS (1 March 1939 – 10 January 2000) was a Nigerian Army officer who served as Chief of Army Staff from April 1980 to October 1981 and as the second Chief of Defence Staff of Nigeria from October 1981 to December 1983. Commissioned in 1960, he held several key command and staff appointments during a career spanning over two decades, including service in the Nigerian Civil War and leadership of the Nigerian Defence Academy. Following his retirement in 1984, he held various positions in the private sector and was a member of national policy committees, including Nigeria’s Vision 2010 programme. He was born in Demsa, Adamawa Province, British Northern Nigeria, and died in London, United Kingdom, on 10 January 2000.

Early life and education

Jalo was born on 1 March 1939 in Demsa, Adamawa Province, British Northern Nigeria, into the royal family of the Batta people. His father was the late Hama Batta, Chief Zaro (Jalo) Kpanti, Paramount Ruler of Demsa, and his mother was the late Kukulu Laiyatu Jalo.

He attended Numan Elementary School, Adamawa Province (1946–1950), Yola Middle School, Adamawa Province (1951–1952), and later Keffi Government College, Nassarawa Province (1953–1958). He was also an active member of the Keffi Old Boys Association (KOBA). His classmates at Keffi included prominent Nigerians such as the late Wantaregh Paul Iyorpuu Unongo, the late Dr. Nuhu Andeyaba, and others.

Military career

He enlisted in the Infantry Corps of the Royal Nigerian Military Force on 20 September 1959 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 4 November 1960 after completing training at the Regular Officers’ Training School, Teshie, Ghana. He subsequently attended the Mons Officer Cadet School, Aldershot, United Kingdom, later in 1960.

His early career included postings as Platoon Commander (1960–1962), Battalion Adjutant (1963–1964), Company Commander (1964–1965), and Battalion Commander (1966–1967).

After the war, he held a series of senior commands, including Garrison Commander, Lagos (1971–1972); Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna (1973–1974); and subsequently Commandant of the NDA (1975–1977). He succeeded Brigadier-General Illiya Bisalla as Commandant and was later succeeded by Brigadier-General E. S. Armah. He was then appointed General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3rd Infantry Division (later 3rd Armoured Division, now 3 Division), Jos (1977–1979), before rising to the position of Deputy Chief of Army Staff (1979–1980).

In 1980, Jalo became Chief of Army Staff, serving until 1981, after which he was appointed the second Chief of Defence Staff of Nigeria (1981–1983), succeeding Lieutenant General Ipoola Alani Akinrinade. He was later succeeded as Chief of Defence Staff by General Domkat Bali.

During his military service, Jalo was also a member of the Supreme Military Council and the National Defence Council. At one point he also served briefly as Acting Military Governor of Lagos State in the 1970s.

He served in the Nigerian Army until 3 January 1984, when he took voluntary retirement. His Certificate of Military Service was formally issued on 7 March 1984 by then Chief of Army Staff, Major General Ibrahim Babangida.

Dates of ranks Rank Date Lieutenant 7 April 1962 Captain 20 September 1964 Major 10 June 1967 Lieutenant Colonel 11 May 1968 Colonel 1 April 1970 Brigadier General 1 October 1973 Major General 1 January 1976 Lieutenant General 15 April 1980

Later life and legacy

Following his retirement from the Nigerian Army, Jalo held a number of positions in the private sector. He was Chairman of the defunct Société Bancaíre Nigeria Limited, Chairman of Mix and Bake Flour Mills Limited, Non-Executive Director of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Chairman of Sea Trucks Group, Nigeria, and Chairman of Jason Oilfield Ventures Limited.

He was appointed a member of the Traditional Rulers and Leaders of Thought Committee, and later served as Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Solid Minerals within Nigeria’s Vision 2010 national development plan.

His hobbies included field hockey and football, and he was affectionately known as "7 Miles" on the football pitch during his playing days.