Gibson Jalo

Lieutenant General

Gibson Sanda Jalo

CFR, FSS
Lieutenant General Gibson Sanda Jalo as Chief of Defence Staff of Nigeria
Birth nameGibson Sanda Jalo
Born(1939-03-01)1 March 1939
Demsa, Adamawa Province, British Northern Nigeria
Died10 January 2000(2000-01-10) (aged 60)
London, United Kingdom
AllegianceNigeria
BranchNigerian Army
Service years1959–1984
RankLieutenant General
Service numberN/114
Commands
  • 2nd Division (Nigerian Civil War)
  • Garrison Commander, Lagos
  • Nigerian Defence Academy (Deputy Commandant, Commandant)
  • 3rd Infantry Division (later 3rd Armoured Division, now 3 Division), Jos
  • Deputy Chief of Army Staff
  • Chief of Army Staff
  • Chief of Defence Staff
ConflictsNigerian Civil War
AwardsCommander of the Federal Republic (CFR) Force Service Star (FSS)
Alma materMons Officer Cadet School; National Defence College (India)
Other work
  • Chairman, Société Bancaíre Nigeria Limited
  • Chairman, Mix and Bake Flour Mills Limited
  • Non-Executive Director of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc
  • Chairman of Sea Trucks Group, Nigeria
  • Chairman of Jason Oilfield Ventures Limited
In office
April 1980 – October 1981
Preceded byIpoola Alani Akinrinade
Succeeded byMohammed Inuwa Wushishi
In office
2 October 1981 – 31 December 1983
Preceded byIpoola Alani Akinrinade
Succeeded byDomkat Bali
In office
August 1975 – January 1978
Preceded byBrig. Illiya Bisalla
Succeeded byBrig. E. S. Armah

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.