President Jonathan has approved the removal of General Patrick Aziza as his National Security Adviser.
Mr. Aziza, a retired military officer, has been criticized as an inept adviser on national security. His tenure has witnessed an escalation in deadly bomb attacks by the extremist Islamist sect, Boko Haram.
Jonathan met with his security team on Friday after he returned from a UN environmental summit in Brazil. His decision to leave Nigeria on Tuesday for the summit as fresh riots broke out had also drawn heavy criticism.
After the meeting, Jonathan's spokesman announced the national security adviser and defence minister had been fired.
The new security adviser is to be Sambo Dasuki, a retired colonel, prominent northerner and cousin to the Sultan of Sokoto, Nigeria's highest Muslim spiritual figure.
Dasuki was also implicated in a 1995 coup attempt against the government of former dictator Sani Abacha and went into exile in the United States at the time.
It was not yet clear who would replace defence minister Bello Mohammed.
The fired national security adviser, Owoye Azazi, is a political ally of Jonathan's, with both men from Bayelsa state in the oil-producing south.
Azazi faced suspicion in the north, particularly after comments he made in April which many took as indicating that the violence was politically linked.
Mr. Aziza, a retired military officer, has been criticized as an inept adviser on national security. His tenure has witnessed an escalation in deadly bomb attacks by the extremist Islamist sect, Boko Haram.
Jonathan met with his security team on Friday after he returned from a UN environmental summit in Brazil. His decision to leave Nigeria on Tuesday for the summit as fresh riots broke out had also drawn heavy criticism.
After the meeting, Jonathan's spokesman announced the national security adviser and defence minister had been fired.
The new security adviser is to be Sambo Dasuki, a retired colonel, prominent northerner and cousin to the Sultan of Sokoto, Nigeria's highest Muslim spiritual figure.
Dasuki was also implicated in a 1995 coup attempt against the government of former dictator Sani Abacha and went into exile in the United States at the time.
It was not yet clear who would replace defence minister Bello Mohammed.
The fired national security adviser, Owoye Azazi, is a political ally of Jonathan's, with both men from Bayelsa state in the oil-producing south.
Azazi faced suspicion in the north, particularly after comments he made in April which many took as indicating that the violence was politically linked.
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