Major Gen Jonathan India Garba trained as a combatant, transportant, strategist, administrator, instructor, tactician and mind moulder. He could have been a teacher but destiny faithfully steered his path into the military, where he expended his entire productive youth serving out various assignments in the Nigerian Army, nationwide.
Born on 14th August 1949 at Tsar, Benue State, the young Garba enlisted at the Nigerian Defence Academy soon after his Grade 11 Teachers Certificate. Upon the mandatory completion of his training at NDA, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant in 1972, following which he began the journey of his military career, traversing units, departments, formations, commands and brigades; and rising seamlessly through the ranks, as a focused, disciplined, dedicated, loyal and submissive officer; up until becoming a Major General in 2002.
Although Garba started as an infantry officer, upon becoming a Major, he transferred his services into the Supply and Transport Corps of the army. Finely read, he holds a Masters Degree in Science and Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan. He also has a doctorate in Strategic Management Studies.
Intellectually vast and multi skilled, Major Gen Garba holds chains of other academic and military certificates obtained locally and overseas, which includes Diploma in Transportation, majoring in Highway/Railway, Advanced Diploma in Petroleum, majoring in Installation Management. Also to his credit is the National War College certificate, Battalion/Regimental Commanders Course, Company Commanders Course Army Service Corps, Officers Long Petroleum Installation, Transport Officers Advance Course, Senior Officers, Supply & Transportation Course, Command & Staff College (Senior Division) Course and Nigeria Defence Academy of Education (NDACE).
A gentleman officer, Major Gen Garba held numerous military appointments, some of which were as Platoon Commander, GSO111Operations Training, Second-in-Command 5ft Infantry Battalion, Instructor, Colonel Administrator/Quartermaster, Commander Division Supply & Transport, Director Doctrines & Combat Development, Corps Commander/Commandant, Chief of Logistics (Army), etc. Major Gen Garba is currently the Board Chairman of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Blessed with a distinguished career, Major Gen Garba holds numerous military awards as a result of his exceptional brilliance, discipline, meritorious services and dedication to duty. He holds the prestigious Force Services Star (FSS), Meritorious Services Star (MSS), Distinguished Service Star (DSS) and Corps Medal of Honour (CMH). He equally earned the prestigious military Pass Staff College (Psc) and was also awarded the Pass Staff Course Dagger (Psc+). He is a Fellow of the National War College (fwc) and Fellow Institute of Management Consultants.
Since joining the Board of NIMASA and owing to his background in strategic planning, supply, transport and logistics, he has provided management a broad based array of critical support in policy and industry implementations. For his quality contributions to the running of the apex maritime regulatory agency, Major Gen Jonathan India Garba is hereby bestowed with the Nigerian Maritime Industry Living Legends Award.
