Nigerian president names banker as chief of staff

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari made former United Bank for Africa chief Alhaji Abba Kyari his new chief of staff Thursday, as part of his first senior government appointments since taking office.

Kyari, who has degrees in law and sociology from Cambridge and Warwick universities in the United Kingdom, has held a number of roles in the private sector, including at Unilever and Mobil, Buhari's spokesman Femi Adesina said in a statement.

The chief of staff is a non-ministerial role but its holder is typically an important fixer and influential presidential aide.

The role of government secretary went to Babachir David Lawal, an engineer with experience in telecoms, while retired colonel Hameed Ibrahim Ali becomes head of the Nigerian Customs Service.

Former lawmakers Ita Enang and Suleiman Kawu were appointed as advisers on parliament while the Nigerian Immigration Service is to be headed by Kure Martin.

Buhari came to power on May 29, vowing to crush Boko Haram, the Islamist insurgency in the northeast, and crack down on endemic corruption.

He has yet to name any ministers but is expected to unveil his cabinet within weeks.

AFP