The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, approves new Nigerian Army appointments to boost operational command, efficiency, and professionalism.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has announced a new wave of Nigerian Army appointments and redeployments involving several senior officers across strategic formations, commands, and training institutions.
The latest reshuffle aims to strengthen leadership structures, reinforce operational efficiency, and further reposition the Nigerian Army to confront emerging security challenges effectively.
In a statement released on Thursday by the Army spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Apollonia Anele, the appointments span critical command, staff, and instructional positions, reflecting the Army’s renewed focus on professionalism, discipline, and adaptability in line with contemporary military demands.
Strategic Leadership Appointments at Army Headquarters
Among the most notable changes is the appointment of Major General Bamidele Alabi as the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army) at the Army Headquarters. His new role positions him at the core of strategic planning and development for the Army’s future operations and organizational policies.
Also affected by the reshuffle is Major General Jamal Abdulsalam, who moves from his position as Chief of Special Services and Programmes to the Defence Headquarters Department of Operations, where he now serves as Chief of Defence Operations.
Major General Peter Mala, formerly of the Office of the National Security Adviser, now assumes command at the Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) of the Nigerian Army, one of the institution’s most crucial posts responsible for shaping doctrines and training frameworks.
Similarly, Major General Samson Jiya moves from the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre (NAHFC) to the Defence Headquarters Department of Defence Accounts and Budget as Chief of Defence Accounts and Budget, where he will oversee financial management and budgetary control for defence operations.
High-Level Departmental and Command Changes
Other senior officers affected by the latest Nigerian Army appointments include Major General Mayirenso Saraso, who now heads the Army Headquarters Department of Operations as Chief of Operations (Army), and Major General Isa Abdullahi, redeployed from the Defence Headquarters to the Army Headquarters Department of Administration as Chief of Administration (Army).
Additionally, Major General Musa Etsu-Ndagi has been appointed Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, where he will coordinate strategic engagement between the military and civil society, while Major General Abubakar Haruna has been assigned as Commander, Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC), Kontagora.
Major General Philip Ilodibia also joins the Defence Space Administration as Chief of Defence Space Administration, bringing his wealth of experience in operational planning and technology integration to a critical defence unit.
Corps Command and Institutional Leadership Roles
The reshuffle also affected several corps within the Nigerian Army, underscoring the COAS’s focus on efficiency and functional specialization.
Major General Godwin Mutkut has been redeployed from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in N’Djamena, Chad, to serve as Corps Commander Infantry at the Infantry Corps Centre. Major General Umar Abubakar, previously at the Ministry of Defence, is now Commander, Nigerian Army Armour Corps, while Major General John Adeyemo takes charge as Corps Commander Artillery.
Major General Mohammed Abdullahi, formerly in charge of the Nigerian Army Cyberwarfare Command, now leads the Nigerian Army Signals as Corps Commander Signals. Additionally, Major General Taofik Sidick has been redeployed to the Nigerian Army Finance Corps as Chief of Accounts and Budget (Army).
In the same vein, Major General Abdullahi Ibrahim becomes Corps Commander Ordnance, Major General Adeyinka Adereti now leads the Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Corps, and Major General Nansak Shagaya takes over as Corps Commander Supply and Transport. Meanwhile, Brigadier General Yusha’u Ahmed assumes the role of Acting Corps Commander, Education.
Commandant Postings at Military Institutions
A number of high-ranking officers have been posted to lead Nigeria’s premier military training and educational institutions.
Major General Oluyemi Olatoye, who previously served as Commander of the Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA and at the Headquarters 82 Division, is now the Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna.
Major General Emmanuel Mustapha, formerly of the Defence Space Administration, has been appointed Commandant, Nigerian Army Signal School, while Major General Adamu Hassan will now head the Nigerian Army School of Artillery.
Similarly, Brigadier General John Bulus has been appointed Commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Accounts, bringing his expertise in military finance management to bear on the institution.
Field Command and Media Appointments
The new Nigerian Army appointments also affect field operations and media leadership. Major General Saidu Audu has been named Force Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in N’Djamena, reinforcing Nigeria’s regional security commitments.
Major General Warrah Idris will now head the Joint Task Force North West Operation FANSAN YAMMA, while Major General Oluremi Fadairo becomes General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Enugu, and Commander, Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA.
At Defence Headquarters, Major General Olatokumbo Bello assumes office as Director of Defence Media Operations, while Brigadier General Samaila Uba becomes Director of Defence Information.
COAS Charges Officers on Discipline and Excellence
While congratulating the newly appointed officers, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu charged them to bring their wealth of operational experience, strategic insight, and leadership discipline to bear on their new assignments.
He emphasized that these Nigerian Army appointments were carefully designed to align with the Army’s modernization drive and its goal of maintaining a disciplined, professional, and combat-ready force capable of confronting the nation’s evolving security landscape.
The COAS further urged the officers to sustain the current operational tempo, deepen inter-agency collaboration, and uphold the Army’s core values of loyalty, integrity, selfless service, and excellence.
According to Shaibu, the redeployment marks another step toward achieving a responsive and resilient Army that can efficiently safeguard Nigeria’s sovereignty and contribute meaningfully to peacekeeping operations both within and beyond the country’s borders.
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