The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved a major shake-up in the Nigerian Army, redeploying several top generals and senior officers to key command, staff, and instructional positions across formations, units, and training institutions nationwide.
According to a statement by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, the exercise is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen leadership, reinforce command structures, and reposition the Nigerian Army for enhanced operational efficiency and discipline.
“The redeployments form part of deliberate measures aimed at reinvigorating leadership and boosting the Army’s operational effectiveness,” Anele said.
Among the senior officers affected, Major General Bamidele Alabi moves to the Army Headquarters Department of Policy and Plans as Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), while Major General Jamal Abdulsalam, formerly Chief of Special Services and Programmes, has been posted to the Defence Headquarters Department of Operations as Chief of Defence Operations.
Major General Peter Mala has been appointed Commander, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Nigerian Army, moving from the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Major General Samson Jiya will now serve as Chief of Defence Accounts and Budget at the Defence Headquarters, while Major General Mayirenso Saraso becomes Chief of Operations (Army). Others include Major General Isa Abdullahi, now Chief of Administration (Army); and Major General Musa Etsu-Ndagi, who assumes the role of Chief of Civil-Military Affairs.
In related postings, Major General Abubakar Haruna has been appointed Commander, Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC), Kontagora; Major General Philip Ilodibia moves to the Defence Space Administration as Chief of Defence Space Administration; and Major General Godwin Mutkut becomes Corps Commander Infantry.
Other key appointments include Major General Umar Abubakar as Commander, Armour Corps; Major General John Adeyemo as Corps Commander Artillery; and Major General Mohammed Abdullahi as Corps Commander Signals. Major General Taofik Sidick will now serve as Chief of Accounts and Budget (Army), while Major General Abdullahi Ibrahim, Major General Adeyinka Adereti, and Major General Nansak Shagaya will head the Ordnance, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, and Supply and Transport Corps respectively. Brigadier General Yusha’u Ahmed has been named Acting Corps Commander Education.
The COAS also approved several new commandant appointments. Major General Oluyemi Olatoye, previously with the 82 Division/Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA, is now Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna. Major General Emmanuel Mustapha takes over the Nigerian Army Signal School, while Major General Adamu Hassan becomes Commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Artillery. Brigadier General John Bulus assumes command at the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Accounts.
For field operations, Major General Saidu Audu has been appointed Force Commander, Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), N’Djamena; Major General Warrah Idris will head the Joint Task Force North West Operation FANSAN YAMMA; and Major General Oluremi Fadairo assumes command of the 82 Division, Enugu, as General Officer Commanding and Commander, Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA.
Additionally, Major General Olatokunbo Bello becomes Director, Defence Media Operations, while Brigadier General Samaila Uba has been appointed Director, Defence Information.
Lieutenant General Shaibu charged the newly appointed officers to demonstrate professionalism, strategic foresight, and dedication in their new roles.
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.”
