The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved a major reshuffle involving the posting and appointment of senior officers to key command, staff, and instructional positions across formations, units, and training institutions of the Nigerian Army.
According to a statement by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, the exercise is aimed at reinvigorating leadership, strengthening command structures, and repositioning the Army for greater operational effectiveness.
Among the senior officers affected is Major General Bamidele Alabi, who has been moved to Army Headquarters, Department of Policy and Plans, as Chief of Policy and Plans (Army). Major General Jamal Abdulsalam, formerly Chief of Special Services and Programmes at Army Headquarters, will now serve at the Defence Headquarters Department of Operations as Chief of Defence Operations.
Major General Peter Mala has been redeployed from the Office of the National Security Adviser to take over as Commander, Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), while Major General Samson Jiya moves from the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre (NAHFC) to the Defence Headquarters Department of Defence Accounts and Budget as Chief of Defence Accounts and Budget.
Other key appointments include Major General Mayirenso Saraso, now Chief of Operations (Army) at the Department of Operations, and Major General Isa Abdullahi, who moves to the Department of Administration as Chief of Administration (Army).
Major General Musa Etsu-Ndagi has been reassigned from the Department of Training to the Department of Civil-Military Affairs as Chief of Civil-Military Affairs. Similarly, Major General Abubakar Haruna proceeds to the Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC), Kontagora, as Commander, while Major General Philip Ilodibia has been redeployed to the Defence Space Administration as Chief of Defence Space Administration.
In the latest reshuffle, Major General Godwin Mutkut will now head the Infantry Corps Centre as Corps Commander Infantry after his tour at the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), N’Djamena. Major General Umar Abubakar moves from the Ministry of Defence to assume duty as Commander, Nigerian Army Armour Corps.
Major General John Adeyemo takes over as Corps Commander Artillery at the Headquarters of the Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery, while Major General Mohammed Abdullahi becomes Corps Commander Signals at the Nigerian Army Signals Headquarters.
Major General Taofik Sidick has been appointed Chief of Accounts and Budget (Army), Major General Abdullahi Ibrahim becomes Corps Commander Ordnance, and Major General Adeyinka Adereti takes charge as Corps Commander, Nigerian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
Additionally, Major General Nansak Shagaya has been appointed Corps Commander, Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport, while Brigadier General Yusha’u Ahmed assumes the role of Acting Corps Commander, Education.
Other appointments include Major General Adamu Hassan, who moves from the Nigerian Defence Section in Riyadh to the Nigerian Army School of Artillery as Commandant, and Brigadier General John Bulus, who becomes Commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Accounts.
In the field command category, Major General Saidu Audu has been appointed Force Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), N’Djamena. Major General Warrah Idris will command the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, while Major General Oluremi Fadairo becomes the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Enugu, and Commander of the Joint Task Force South East, Operation Udoka.
Furthermore, Major General Olatokumbo Bello has been appointed Director, Defence Media Operations, at Defence Headquarters, and Brigadier General Samaila Uba moves from the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, to become Director, Defence Information.
Lieutenant General Shaibu charged the newly appointed officers to deploy their wealth of experience, professionalism, and strategic insight in enhancing the Army’s operational efficiency and discipline. He urged them to sustain ongoing momentum, strengthen interagency collaboration, and remain committed to the Army’s core values of loyalty, selfless service, integrity, and excellence.
