Massive Shake-Up in Nigerian Army After Tinubu Decorates COAS Lagbaja
There was a massive shake-up in the Nigerian Army after the new Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, was decorated with his new rank by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday.
The shake-up included 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, said the redeployments are intended to strengthen leadership, improve command efficiency, and enhance ongoing operations.
According to Anele, Major General Bamidele Alabi was appointed the 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.
She added: “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.”
Anele 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.
Major General Olatokumbo Bello was appointed as the Director of Defence Media Operations, while Brigadier General Samaila Uba becomes Director of Defence Information.
Bello and Uba are spokespersons for the Defence Headquarters.
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 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.