Be Emmanuel Obisue
Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved a major redeployment of senior officers across key command, staff, and instructional positions in a move aimed at strengthening leadership, improving operational effectiveness, and repositioning the Nigerian Army for greater efficiency.
Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director of Army Public Relations, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, noting that the postings were part of ongoing efforts by the Army Chief to reinvigorate command structures and drive institutional excellence.
“Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu charged the newly appointed senior officers to bring to bear their wealth of operational experience, administrative acumen and strategic foresight in driving a disciplined and combat-ready Army to decisively confront the contemporary and emerging security challenges. He urged them to sustain the current operational momentum, strengthen interagency collaboration and remain unwavering in upholding the Nigerian Army’s core ethos of loyalty, selfless service, integrity and excellence,” the statement read.
Among those affected by the new appointments are Major General Bamidele Alabi, now Chief of Policy and Plans (Army); Major General Jamal Abdulsalam, who proceeds to Defence Headquarters as Chief of Defence Operations; and Major General Peter Mala, appointed Commander, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Nigerian Army. Also, Major General Samson Jiya moves to Defence Headquarters as Chief of Defence Accounts and Budget.
Others include Major General Mayirenso Saraso, Chief of Operations (Army); Major General Isa Abdullahi, Chief of Administration (Army); and Major General Musa Etsu-Ndagi, Chief of Civil-Military Affairs. Major General Abubakar Haruna has been appointed Commander, Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC) Kontagora, while Major General Philip Ilodibia becomes Chief of Defence Space Administration.
In other key postings, Major General Godwin Mutkut takes over as Corps Commander Infantry; Major General Umar Abubakar, Commander Armour Corps; Major General John Adeyemo, Corps Commander Artillery; and Major General Mohammed Abdullahi, Corps Commander Signals. Similarly, Major General Taofik Sidick is now Chief of Accounts and Budget (Army), while Major General Abdullahi Ibrahim assumes duty as Corps Commander Ordnance.
Also appointed are Major General Adeyinka Adereti, Corps Commander Electrical and Mechanical Engineers; Major General Nansak Shagaya, Corps Commander Supply and Transport; and Brigadier General Yusha’u Ahmed, Acting Corps Commander Education.
At the training institutions, Major General Oluyemi Olatoye becomes Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna; Major General Emmanuel Mustapha, Commandant, Nigerian Army Signal School; Major General Adamu Hassan, Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Artillery; and Brigadier General John Bulus, Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Finance and Accounts.
Senior officers appointed as field commanders include Major General Saidu Audu, Force Commander, Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), N’Djamena; Major General Warrah Idris, Commander, Joint Task Force North West (Operation FANSAN YAMMA); and Major General Oluremi Fadairo, General Officer Commanding 82 Division and Commander, Joint Task Force South East (Operation UDO KA).
Additionally, Major General Olatokumbo Bello has been named Director, Defence Media Operations, while Brigadier General Samaila Uba becomes Director, Defence Information at Defence Headquarters.
The Nigerian Army said the reshuffle is expected to inject fresh energy into the Service’s leadership and sustain the operational tempo under the new command direction of Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu.
