COAS redeploys top army officers, makes new appointments  (+FULL LIST)

Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved a wide-ranging redeployment of top army officers to strategic commands, staff positions, and military training institutions across the country.

In a statement signed by Acting Director Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, on Thursday, several senior officers were assigned new responsibilities as part of efforts to enhance operational efficiency and strengthen the service’s command structure.

Among the notable postings, Major General Bamidele Alabi moves to the Army Headquarters Department of Policy and Plans as the new Chief of Policy and Plans (Army). Major General Jamal Abdulsalam, formerly Chief of Special Services and Programmes at Army Headquarters, has been transferred to the Defence Headquarters Department of Operations as Chief of Defence Operations. Major General Peter Mala departs the Office of the National Security Adviser for the Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command Nigerian Army (TRADOC), where he will serve as Commander.

Also affected in the latest shake-up is Major General Samson Jiya, who 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, redeployed from NAHFC to the Army Headquarters Department of Operations as Chief of Operations (Army); Major General Isa Abdullahi, who takes charge as Chief of Administration (Army) at the Department of Administration; and Major General Musa Etsu-Ndagi, who now heads the Department of Civil-Military Affairs as Chief of Civil-Military Affairs.

Similarly, Major General Abubakar Haruna has been moved from NAHFC to the Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC), Kontagora, as Commander, while Major General Philip Ilodibia leaves the Army Headquarters Department of Policy and Plans for the Defence Space Administration, where he will serve as Chief of Defence Space Administration.

“Equally appointed are Major General Godwin Mutkut, from Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) 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 moves from Nigerian Army School of Artillery (NASA) 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,” the statement read.

The redeployment also affected the Army’s finance, logistics, and training institutions.“Additionally, Major General Taofik Sidick has been redeployed from the NAHFC to Headquarters Nigerian Army Finance Corps as Chief of Accounts and Budget (Army), Major General Abdullahi Ibrahim from NAHFC 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, 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 while Brigadier General Yusha’u Ahmed has been appointed Acting Corps Commander Education,” it added.

According to the statement, the COAS also approved new appointments in military schools. Major General Oluyemi Olatoye, formerly with Headquarters 82 Division/Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA, is now Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna. Major General Emmanuel Mustapha, from Defence Space Administration, takes over as Commandant of the Nigerian Army Signal School, while Major General Adamu Hassan moves from the Nigerian Defence Section, Riyadh, to head the Nigerian Army School of Artillery. Brigadier General John Bulus has been appointed Commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Accounts.

According to the statement, senior officers appointed as field commanders includes,  Major General Saidu Audu from Army Headquarters Department of Training to Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), 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, Enugu as General Officer Commanding and Commander Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA.

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

“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,” it added.