By Abiola Olawale
The Nigerian Army is undergoing a massive and immediate overhaul as the newly appointed Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, hits the ground running.
The New Diplomat reports that the COAS has approved the immediate redeployment of 67 senior officers, including 56 Major-Generals and 11 Brigadier-Generals.
The sweeping changes were announced a few hours after he was officially decorated as the Chief of Army Staff by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday.
The overhaul, according to a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Lt. Col Appolonia Anele, is aimed at reinvigorating leadership, strengthening command structures, and repositioning the Nigerian Army (NA) for heightened operational effectiveness.
Among the newly appointed senior officers are Major General Bamidele Alabi, who has been redeployed to Army Headquarters Department of Policy and Plans and appointed Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Major General Jamal Abdulsalam, formerly Chief of Special Services and Programmes at Army Headquarters proceeds to Defence Headquarters Department of Operations as Chief of Defence Operations, while Major General Peter Mala moves from Office of the National Security Adviser to Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command Nigerian Army (TRADOC) as Commander.
Major General Samson Jiya, from the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre (NAHFC), moves to the Defence Headquarters Department of Defence Accounts and Budget as Chief of Defence Accounts and Budget.
Other 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 moves from the Army Headquarters Department of Training to the 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 the Army Headquarters Department of Policy and Plans to the Defence Space Administration as Chief of Defence Space Administration.
Equally appointed are Major General Godwin Mutkut, from Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) N’Djamena to Headquarters Infantry Corps Centre as Corps Commander Infantry, Major General Umar Abubakar from the Ministry of Defence to Headquarters Nigerian Army Armour Corps as Commander Armour Corps.
Major General John Adeyemo moves from the Nigerian Army School of Artillery (NASA) to the Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery as Corps Commander Artillery, and Major General Mohammed Abdullahi from the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command to the Headquarters Nigerian Army Signals as Corps Commander Signals.
Major General Taofik Sidick has been redeployed from the NAHFC to Headquarters Nigerian Army Finance Corps as Chief of Accounts and Budget (Army), Major General Abdullahi Ibrahim from NAHFC to Headquarters Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps as Corps Commander Ordnance, Major General Adeyinka Adereti from Defence Headquarters to Headquarters Nigerian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers as Corps Commander.
Major General Nansak Shagaya from the Army Headquarters Department of Operations to the Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport as Corps Commander Supply and Transport, while Brigadier General Yusha’u Ahmed has been appointed Acting Corps Commander Education.
The COAS also approved the appointment of Major General Oluyemi Olatoye, from Headquarters 82 Division/ Joint Task Force South East Operation Udoka, to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, and appointed Commandant, Major General Emmanuel Mustapha from Defence Space Administration to Nigerian Army Signal School as Commandant.
Major General Adamu Hassan from the Nigerian Defence Section, Riyadh, to the Nigerian Army School of Artillery as Commandant, and Brigadier General John Bulus from the Headquarters Nigerian Army Finance Corps to the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Accounts as Commandant.
Senior officers appointed as field commanders include, Major General Saidu Audu from the Army Headquarters Department of Training to the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), N’Djamena, as Force Commander, Major General Warrah Idris from the Defence Headquarters to Joint Task Force North West Operation Fansan Yamma as Commander, and Major General Oluremi Fadairo from the Army Headquarters Department of Civil Military Affairs to 82 Division Nigerian Army, Enugu as General Officer Commanding and Commander Joint Task Force South East Operation Udoka.
The COAS further appointed Major General Olatokumbo Bello as the Director Defence Media Operations at Defence Headquarters, while Brigadier General Samaila Uba was redeployed from the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, to Defence Headquarters as Director Defence Information.
Lieutenant General Waidi 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.
The New Diplomat reports that the development came after Tinubu approved a major shake-up in the nation’s military leadership.
Waidi Shaibu, a major-general, replaced Olufemi Oluyede, a lieutenant general, who was elevated to the chief of defence staff (CDS) position.
Sunday Aneke, an air vice-marshal, became air chief, while Idi Abbas, a rear admiral, is the new naval chief.
The changes came weeks after rumours of a botched coup plot, although denied by the military authorities.
