By Abdul Lauya
The Nigerian Navy has once again appointed a non–public relations officer, Commodore A.O. Odejobi, as its new Director of Naval Information (DINFO), continuing a pattern that has sparked unease among the service’s core information professionals.
According to an internal signal obtained by The Nation, Commodore Odejobi replaces Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, who has been redeployed to assume command of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Lugard in Lokoja, Kogi State, on or before November 1, 2025.
Commodore Odejobi, a naval pilot and seaman with an impressive operational background, is described as a disciplined and strategic officer whose professionalism has been well regarded in naval circles.
However, his appointment has stirred unease among officers within the Navy’s Information Branch, many of whom view the move as another setback in their struggle for professional recognition and fair career progression within the service.
At the heart of the disquiet is what insiders describe as a “disturbing institutional pattern” where officers without journalism or communication training are routinely posted to lead the Navy’s information and public relations directorate, a position traditionally expected to be held by career information officers.
These information officers, most of whom were enlisted into the Navy with degrees in Mass Communication, Journalism, or Public Relations and trained in both local and international media institutions, have risen through the ranks to the level of Navy Captain, the Colonel equivalent in the Nigerian Army.
Despite their professional pedigree and years of specialized service in naval communications, these officers are often bypassed when the position of Director of Naval Information becomes vacant, leading to frustration and stagnation within the cadre.
Critics argue that the practice runs contrary to global best practices and undermines the principles of professionalism as championed by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), the statutory body regulating the practice of public relations in the country.
In contrast, the Nigerian Army has taken what many describe as a commendable and progressive step by appointing a Lieutenant Colonel, a core PR officer enlisted into the Army’s Public Relations Corps, to head its Directorate of Army Public Relations (DAPR).
The Army’s decision, which aligns with NIPR’s advocacy for professionalism in public communication roles, has been widely praised as a demonstration of institutional respect for specialization, even though the appointee holds a relatively junior rank compared to her naval counterparts.
Eye Reporters reports that within the Navy, however, sources say the opposite trend persists. A Rear Admiral, the equivalent of a Major General and the most senior career information officer in the service, is currently deployed to a non-information portfolio at the Naval Headquarters, a move seen as both wasteful and demoralizing.
Analysts believe this growing sidelining of core information professionals has far-reaching implications for the Navy’s image management, especially in an age when strategic communication, crisis response, and media transparency are essential to maintaining public confidence in military institutions.
By repeatedly placing non-PR officers at the helm of its public information directorate, the Navy, critics warn, risks diluting the technical and professional edge required to manage narratives in a rapidly evolving media environment.
Eye Reporters notes that beyond the internal grievances, the issue raises broader questions about adherence to professional standards and institutional respect for specialization across the Armed Forces.
As the new DINFO settles into his role, expectations are high, not only for effective communication but also for a possible policy rethink that would give due recognition to the Navy’s long-neglected corps of professional information officers.
For now, however, the disquiet continues, a quiet reminder that in the struggle between hierarchy and professionalism, the Nigerian Navy’s information branch remains caught in the undertow.
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