The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved a sweeping redeployment and appointment of senior officers to key command, staff, and training positions across the Nigerian Army.
According to a statement released on Thursday by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, the new postings are aimed at strengthening leadership capacity, enhancing command efficiency, and improving the overall effectiveness of ongoing military operations.
Anele noted that the postings take immediate effect.
Under the new arrangement, Major General Bamidele Alabi has been appointed Chief of Policy and Plans at the Army Headquarters, while Major General Jamal Abdulsalam moves to the Defence Headquarters as Chief of Defence Operations. Similarly, Major General Peter Mala now heads the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) as Commander, and Major General Samson Jiya becomes Chief of Defence Accounts and Budget.
Other strategic appointments include:
Major General Mayirenso Saraso, from the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre (NAHFC), now Chief of Operations (Army) at the Department of Operations, Army Headquarters.
Major General Isa Abdullahi, from Defence Headquarters, to Chief of Administration (Army).
Major General Musa Etsu-Ndagi, from the Department of Training, now Chief of Civil-Military Affairs (Army).
Major General Abubakar Haruna, from NAHFC, appointed Commander, Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC), Kontagora.
Major General Philip Ilodibia, from Policy and Plans, posted to the Defence Space Administration as Chief of Defence Space Administration.
In the combat arms, Major General Godwin Mutkut is now Corps Commander Infantry, Major General Umar Abubakar becomes Commander Armour Corps, Major General John Adeyemo assumes duty as Corps Commander Artillery, and Major General Mohammed Abdullahi takes charge as Corps Commander Signals.
For technical and support services, Major General Taofik Sidick is appointed Chief of Accounts and Budget (Army), Major General Abdullahi Ibrahim becomes Corps Commander Ordnance, Major General Adeyinka Adereti assumes the role of Corps Commander Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, and Major General Nansak Shagaya is now Corps Commander Supply and Transport. Brigadier General Yusha’u Ahmed has been named Acting Corps Commander Education.
At the training institutions, Major General Oluyemi Olatoye takes over as Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), 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, appointed Force Commander, Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), N’Djamena.
Major General Warrah Idris, now Commander, Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA.
Major General Oluremi Fadairo, appointed General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division and Commander, Joint Task Force South East, Operation UDO KA.
For information management, Major General Olatokumbo Bello becomes Director of Defence Media Operations, while Brigadier General Samaila Uba assumes duty as Director of Defence Information—both serving as spokespersons for the Defence Headquarters.
General Shaibu urged the newly appointed officers to uphold the core values of professionalism, loyalty, integrity, and selfless service in their respective commands.
The appointments come shortly after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu decorated the new service chiefs, including General Olufemi Oluyede (Chief of Defence Staff), Air Marshal Kennedy Aneke (Chief of Air Staff), and Vice Admiral Idi Abbas (Chief of Naval Staff), at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Their confirmation followed a two-hour closed-door Senate screening where the nominees outlined strategies to strengthen national security and foster greater inter-service coordination.
The leadership changes come amid heightened public scrutiny following unverified reports of a purported coup plot earlier in October—claims that the Defence Headquarters swiftly dismissed as false and mischievous.
Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, clarified that the alleged arrests were merely internal disciplinary issues, describing the report as an attempt to cause unnecessary panic and distrust.
Meanwhile, presidential aide Bayo Onanuga reaffirmed that the appointments were routine and within the President’s authority as Commander-in-Chief, adding that, “Service chiefs can be hired or replaced at the President’s discretion.”
— Hobnob News
