The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved a new round of postings and appointments for senior officers across key command, staff, and training positions in the Nigerian Army.
The development, according to a statement by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, is part of efforts to reinvigorate leadership, strengthen command structures, and enhance the operational effectiveness of the Army.
Among the new appointments, Major General Bamidele Alabi has been redeployed to the 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, moves to the Defence Headquarters as Chief of Defence Operations, while Major General Peter Mala has been appointed Commander, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), after his posting from the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Major General Samson Jiya, previously with the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre (NAHFC), is now Chief of Defence Accounts and Budget at the Defence Headquarters. Similarly, Major General Mayirenso Saraso is the new Chief of Operations (Army), while Major General Isa Abdullahi assumes duties as Chief of Administration (Army). Major General Musa Etsu-Ndagi has also been moved to the Department of Civil-Military Affairs as Chief of Civil-Military Affairs.
Other key postings include Major General Abubakar Haruna, who now commands the Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC), Kontagora; and Major General Philip Ilodibia, appointed Chief of Defence Space Administration.
In related changes, Major General Godwin Mutkut takes over as Corps Commander Infantry, Major General Umar Abubakar becomes Commander Armour Corps, and Major General John Adeyemo assumes the position of Corps Commander Artillery. Major General Mohammed Abdullahi has been appointed Corps Commander Signals.
Also, Major General Taofik Sidick is now Chief of Accounts and Budget (Army), Major General Abdullahi Ibrahim becomes Corps Commander Ordnance, Major General Adeyinka Adereti is Corps Commander Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, and Major General Nansak Shagaya assumes command of the Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport. Brigadier General Yusha’u Ahmed has been appointed Acting Corps Commander Education.
Lieutenant Colonel Anele added that Major General Oluyemi Olatoye has been appointed Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna; Major General Emmanuel Mustapha, Commandant of the Nigerian Army Signal School; Major General Adamu Hassan, Commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Artillery; and Brigadier General John Bulus, Commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Accounts.
For field operations, Major General Saidu Audu will serve as 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 General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Enugu, and Commander, Joint Task Force South East, Operation UDO KA.
At the Defence Headquarters, Major General Olatokunbo Bello has been appointed Director of Defence Media Operations, and Brigadier General Samaila Uba becomes Director of Defence Information.
Lieutenant General Shaibu charged the newly appointed officers to demonstrate professionalism, discipline, and strategic foresight in their new roles. He urged them to sustain the Army’s current operational momentum, foster interagency collaboration, and uphold the service’s core values of loyalty, integrity, selfless service, and excellence.
