In a decisive move to reinvigorate leadership and enhance operational effectiveness, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved the posting and appointment of senior officers to key command, staff, and instructional positions across the Nigerian Army. This restructuring aims to strengthen command structures and reposition the army for heightened performance against security challenges.

In a statement, Acting Director Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, announced that Major General Bamidele Alabi has been redeployed to Army Headquarters Department of Policy and Plans as Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), while Major General Jamal Abdulsalam proceeds from Army Headquarters to Defence Headquarters Department of Operations as Chief of Defence Operations. Major General Peter Mala moves from the Office of the National Security Adviser to Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command Nigerian Army as Commander, and Major General Samson Jiya transitions from the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre to Defence Headquarters Department of Defence Accounts and Budget as Chief of Defence Accounts and Budget.

Anele further stated that other strategic appointments include Major General Mayirenso Saraso from the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre 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), and Major General Musa Etsu-Ndagi from Army Headquarters Department of Training to Army Headquarters Department of Civil-Military Affairs as Chief of Civil-Military Affairs. Additionally, Major General Abubakar Haruna moves from the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre to Nigerian Army Training Centre 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 also detailed appointments to corps commands, with Major General Godwin Mutkut moving from Multi-National Joint Task Force N’Djamena to Headquarters Infantry Corps Centre as Corps Commander Infantry, Major General Umar Abubakar from the Ministry of Defence to Headquarters Nigerian Army Armour Corps as Commander Armour Corps, Major General John Adeyemo from Nigerian Army School of Artillery to Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery as Corps Commander Artillery, and Major General Mohammed Abdullahi from Nigerian Army Cyberwarfare Command to Headquarters Nigerian Army Signals as Corps Commander Signals.

Anele added that Major General Taofik Sidick has been redeployed from the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre to Headquarters Nigerian Army Finance Corps as Chief of Accounts and Budget (Army), Major General Abdullahi Ibrahim from the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre to Headquarters Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps as Corps Commander Ordnance, Major General Adeyinka Adereti from Defence Headquarters to Headquarters Nigerian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers as Corps Commander, and Major General Nansak Shagaya from Army Headquarters Department of Operations to Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport as Corps Commander Supply and Transport. Brigadier General Yusha’u Ahmed has been appointed Acting Corps Commander Education.

The COAS also approved the appointment of Major General Oluyemi Olatoye from Headquarters 82 Division and Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA to the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna as Commandant, Major General Emmanuel Mustapha from Defence Space Administration to Nigerian Army Signal School as Commandant, Major General Adamu Hassan from Nigerian Defence Section in Riyadh to Nigerian Army School of Artillery as Commandant, and Brigadier General John Bulus from Headquarters Nigerian Army Finance Corps to Nigerian Army School of Finance and Accounts as Commandant.

Senior officers appointed as field commanders include Major General Saidu Audu from Army Headquarters Department of Training to Multi-National Joint Task Force in N’Djamena as Force Commander, Major General Warrah Idris from Defence Headquarters to Joint Task Force North West Operation FANSAN YAMMA as Commander, and Major General Oluremi Fadairo from Army Headquarters Department of Civil Military Affairs to 82 Division Nigerian Army in Enugu as General Officer Commanding and Commander Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA.

Furthermore, the COAS appointed Major General Olatokumbo Bello as Director Defence Media Operations at Defence Headquarters, while Brigadier General Samaila Uba was redeployed from the Armed Forces Command and Staff College in Jaji to Defence Headquarters as Director Defence Information.

In the statement, Lieutenant General 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 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.