By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Chief of Army Staff, (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede has approved a major reshuffling of top positions in the service.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu.
The DAPR said the appointment of new Principal Staff Officers (PSOs), General Officers Commanding (GOCs), operational commanders, and Commandants of army training institutions, among others is aimed at enhancing the operational effectiveness and administrative efficiency of the Nigerian Army.
He said the COAS underscored the Nigerian Army’s commitment to ensuring a robust and dynamic leadership structure capable of addressing emerging security challenges.
Some of the senior officers appointed as PSOs at the Army Headquarters include Maj Gen L.A. Fejokwu, from National Defence College to the Department of Army Administration, appointed Chief of Administration (Army); Maj Gen G.U. Chibuisi, from Nigerian Army Resource Centre to the Department of Civil Military Affairs, appointed Chief of Civil Military Affairs; and Maj Gen A.S. Ndalolo, also from the Nigerian Army Resource Centre to the Department of Army Training, appointed Chief of Training (Army). Others include Maj Gen O.S. Abai, from the Department of Army Training to the Department of Army Transformation and Innovation, appointed Chief of Transformation and Innovation; and Maj Gen J.H. Abdussalam, from Headquarters 6 Division to the Department of Special Services and Programmes, appointed Chief of Special Services and Programmes. Maj Gen E.I. Okoro has been redeployed from the Department of Army Logistics to the Department of Military Secretary, appointed Military Secretary (Army).
Senior officers appointed as General Officers Commanding (GOCs) include Maj Gen O.T. Olatoye, from Nigerian Army School of Infantry to Headquarters 82 Division/Joint Task Force (JTF) South East Operation UDO KA (OPUK), appointed GOC 82 Division/Commander JTF OPUK; and Maj Gen E.F. Oyinlola, from the Department of Military Secretary to Headquarters 3 Division, appointed GOC 3 Division/Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH). The acting appointments of Maj Gen A.G.L. Haruna as GOC 7 Division/Commander Sector 1 JTF North East Operation HADIN KAI and Maj Gen I.A. Ajose as GOC 8 Division/Commander Sector 2 JTF North West Operation FANSAN YANMA have been confirmed substantive in the recent redeployment.
Other senior officers redeployed include Maj Gen G.O. Adeshina, from Headquarters Nigerian Army Signals to Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, appointed Director General; and Maj Gen G.M. Mutkut, from Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre to Headquarters Multi-National Joint Task Force, N’Djamena, as the Force Commander. The redeployment also features Maj Gen M.C. Kangye, from Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery to Defence Headquarters, appointed Director of Media Operations.
Senior officers appointed as Corps Commanders include Maj Gen O.C. Ajunwa, from Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre to Headquarters Nigerian Army Armour Corps, appointed Commander; Maj Gen H.T. Wesley, from the Department of Special Services and Programmes to Headquarters Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps, appointed Commander; and Maj Gen T.T. Numbere, from Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre to Headquarters Nigerian Army Engineers, appointed Commander. Others include Maj Gen N.C. Ugbo, from the Department of Civil Military Affairs to Headquarters Nigerian Army Signals, appointed Commander; Maj Gen Z.L. Abubakar, from the Department of Army Transformation and Innovation to Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery, appointed Commander; and Maj Gen A.P. Oguntola, from Nigerian Army College of Education Science and Technology to Headquarters Nigerian Army Education Corps, appointed Corps Commander.
Other senior officers affected in the redeployment are Maj Gen J.O. Sokoya, appointed Commandant Nigerian Army Training Centre; Maj Gen U.M. Alkali, appointed Commandant Army War College Nigeria; and Maj Gen F.S. Etim, from the Department of Army Transformation and Innovation to Nigerian Army School of Infantry, appointed Commandant. Maj Gen A.B. Mohammed has been redeployed from the Department of Army Operations to Depot Nigerian Army, appointed Commandant.
Other newly appointed senior officers include Maj Gen I.E. Ekpenyong, now Commandant Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering, and Maj Gen A.O. Adegbite, appointed Commandant Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport, while Brig Gen A.M. Umar is redeployed from Army War College Nigeria to Warrant Officers Academy, appointed Commandant, among others.
The Chief of Army Staff has directed all newly appointed senior officers to bring renewed vigour, dedication, and commitment to their duties, particularly in sustaining the ongoing onslaught against terrorism, insurgency, and other threats to national security. He also charged them to ensure the welfare of troops remains paramount as they assume their new appointments.
