The newly appointed Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has announced a sweeping redeployment of senior officers to key command, staff, and instructional positions across the Nigerian Army.

The changes, approved on Friday, were described as “a decisive move aimed at reinvigorating leadership, strengthening command structures, and repositioning the Nigerian Army for heightened operational effectiveness,” according to a statement signed by Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director of Army Public Relations.

Among the top postings, Major General Bamidele Alabi becomes Chief of Policy and Plans (Army) at Army Headquarters, while Major General Jamal Abdulsalam moves to Defence Headquarters as Chief of Defence Operations.

Major General Peter Mala was redeployed from the Office of the National Security Adviser to head the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Nigerian Army.

Major General Samson Jiya now serves as Chief of Defence Accounts and Budget, while Major General Mayirenso Saraso takes over as Chief of Operations (Army). Major General Isa Abdullahi assumes duty as Chief of Administration (Army), and Major General Musa Etsu-Ndagi becomes Chief of Civil-Military Affairs.

In related moves, Major General Abubakar Haruna was appointed Commander, Nigerian Army Training Centre, Kontagora, while Major General Philip Ilodibia moves to the Defence Space Administration as Chief of Defence Space Administration.

Strategic Corps Commands Reassigned

Major General Godwin Mutkut will now head the Infantry Corps Centre, and Major General Umar Abubakar has been appointed Commander, Armour Corps. Major General John Adeyemo assumes command of the Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery, while Major General Mohammed Abdullahi becomes Corps Commander, Signals.

Other key appointments include Major General Taofik Sidick as Chief of Accounts and Budget (Army), Major General Abdullahi Ibrahim as Corps Commander, Ordnance, and Major General Adeyinka Adereti as Corps Commander, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Major General Nansak Shagaya moves to lead the Corps of Supply and Transport, while Brigadier General Yusha’u Ahmed becomes Acting Corps Commander, Education.

The reshuffle also extends to military schools and field commands. Major General Oluyemi Olatoye becomes Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna. Major General Emmanuel Mustapha now heads the Nigerian Army Signal School, while Major General Adamu Hassan was appointed Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Artillery.

On the field, Major General Saidu Audu assumes duty as Force Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), N’Djamena. Major General Warrah Idris takes charge of Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, and Major General Oluremi Fadairo becomes General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Enugu, and Commander of Joint Task Force South East, Operation UDO KA.

At Defence Headquarters, Major General Olatokumbo Bello takes over as Director, Defence Media Operations, while Brigadier General Samaila Uba becomes Director, Defence Information.

Shaibu’s Charge to Commanders

Lieutenant General Shaibu urged the newly appointed officers to demonstrate excellence, discipline, and strategic foresight in tackling Nigeria’s evolving security challenges. “You must sustain the operational momentum, deepen interagency collaboration, and uphold the Army’s ethos of loyalty, selfless service, and integrity,” he charged.

Military observers say the reshuffle signals Shaibu’s intent to inject fresh energy into the force’s leadership at a time of heightened insecurity across several fronts.

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