The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Waidi Shaibu, who resumed office on Thursday, has approved a massive reshuffle of senior officers and commanders across formations and training institutions.
The sweeping reassignments, announced on his first official day in office, affected key departments at the Army Headquarters, Defence Headquarters, and strategic field commands nationwide.
According to a statement signed by Lt Col Appolonia Anele, Acting Director of Army Public Relations, the exercise was designed to “reposition the Nigerian Army for heightened operational effectiveness.”
“In a decisive move aimed at reinvigorating leadership, strengthening command structures and repositioning the Nigerian Army for heightened operational effectiveness, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved the posting and appointment of senior officers to key command, staff and instructional positions across formations, units and training institutions of the Nigerian Army,” the statement read.
Among those redeployed is Major General Bamidele Alabi, now appointed Chief of Policy and Plans (Army) at the Army Headquarters Department of Policy and Plans. Major General Jamal Abdulsalam, formerly Chief of Special Services and Programmes, will now serve as Chief of Defence Operations at the Defence Headquarters, while Major General Peter Mala moves from the Office of the National Security Adviser to become Commander, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Nigerian Army.
Other major movements include Major General Samson Jiya, who moves to the Defence Headquarters as Chief of Defence Accounts and Budget, and Major General Mayirenso Saraso, who becomes the Chief of Operations (Army).
The statement also named Major General Isa Abdullahi as the Chief of Administration (Army), Major General Musa Etsu-Ndagi as Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, and Major General Abubakar Haruna as Commander, Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC), Kontagora.
Several corps and institutions were also reshuffled: Major General Godwin Mutkut was redeployed from the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in N’Djamena to head the Infantry Corps Centre.
Major General Umar Abubakar takes charge of the Armour Corps, while Major General John Adeyemo moves to command the Artillery Corps.
Major General Mohammed Abdullahi becomes Corps Commander, Signals, and Major General Taofik Sidick assumes duty as Chief of Accounts and Budget (Army).
The reshuffle extends to military training institutions. Major General Oluyemi Olatoye becomes the new Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, while Major General Emmanuel Mustapha, Major General Adamu Hassan, and Brigadier General John Bulus were assigned to head other key schools.
On the operational front, Major General Saidu Audu was named Force Commander, Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), N’Djamena, while Major General Warrah Idris now leads Joint Task Force North West Operation FANSAN YAMMA, and Major General Oluremi Fadairo takes charge of 82 Division, Enugu, as both GOC and Commander, Operation UDO KA.
Additionally, Major General Olatokumbo Bello was appointed Director, Defence Media Operations, and Brigadier General Samaila Uba becomes Director, Defence Information at Defence Headquarters.
Lieutenant General Shaibu urged the newly appointed commanders to demonstrate professionalism and commitment in their new roles.
“The COAS 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,” the statement said.
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