The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved the posting and appointment of senior officers to command, staff, and training positions across the Nigerian Army.
A statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, on Thursday, said the redeployments are intended to strengthen leadership, improve command efficiency, and enhance ongoing operations.
Anele added that the postings take effect immediately.
According to her, Major General Bamidele Alabi has been appointed Chief of Policy and Plans at the Army Headquarters, Major General Jamal Abdulsalam moves to Defence Headquarters as Chief of Defence Operations, while Major General Peter Mala has been posted to Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) as Commander. Major General Samson Jiya becomes Chief of Defence Accounts and Budget.
“In the same vein, Major General Samson Jiya, from Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre (NAHFC), to Defence Headquarters Department of Defence Accounts and Budget as Chief of Defence Accounts and Budget.
“Other strategic appointments include Major General Mayirenso Saraso from NAHFC to Army Headquarters Department of Operations, as Chief of Operations (Army), Major General Isa Abdullahi from Defence Headquarters to Army Headquarters Department of Administration as Chief of Administration (Army), Major General Musa Etsu-Ndagi from Army Headquarters to Department of Training to Army Headquarters Department of Civil-Military Affairs, as Chief of Civil-Military Affairs.
“Major General Abubakar Haruna from NAHFC to Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC), Kontagora as Commander and Major General Philip Ilodibia from Army Headquarters Department of Policy and Plans to Defence Space Administration as Chief of Defence Space Administration,” the statement partly read.
In other postings, the statement said Major General Godwin Mutkut is now Corps Commander Infantry, Major General Umar Abubakar becomes Commander Armour Corps, Major General John Adeyemo takes over as Corps Commander Artillery, and Major General Mohammed Abdullahi becomes Corps Commander Signals.
Major General Taofik Sidick has been named Chief of Accounts and Budget (Army). Major General Abdullahi Ibrahim is now Corps Commander Ordnance, Major General Adeyinka Adereti becomes Corps Commander Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, and Major General Nansak Shagaya takes over as Corps Commander Supply and Transport. Brigadier General Yusha’u Ahmed becomes Acting Corps Commander, Education.
For training institutions, Major General Oluyemi Olatoye has been appointed Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy, while Major General Emmanuel Mustapha, Major General Adamu Hassan and Brigadier General John Bulus have been appointed Commandants of the Nigerian Army Signal School, Nigerian Army School of Artillery, and Nigerian Army School of Finance and Accounts, respectively.
New field commanders include Major General Saidu Audu, now Force Commander, Multi-National Joint Task Force in N’Djamena; Major General Warrah Idris, Commander of 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.
The COAS further appointed Major General Olatokumbo Bello as Director of Defence Media Operations, while Brigadier General Samaila Uba becomes Director of Defence Information. Both Bello and Uba are spokespersons for the Defence Headquarters.
Shaibu, however, urged the officers to discharge their duties with professionalism and uphold the values of loyalty, selfless service, integrity, and excellence.
The appointment comes hours after President Bola Tinubu decorated Shaibu, along with other new service chiefs, with their respective ranks at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Others decorated were General Olufemi Oluyede as the Chief of Defence Staff; Air Marshal Kennedy Aneke as Chief of Air Staff; and Vice Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff.
The Senate had, on Wednesday, confirmed the four nominees after a two-hour closed-door screening session where they were grilled on strategies to strengthen national security and improve coordination among the armed forces.
