By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Nigerian Army has announced a major redeployment of senior officers across key command, operational and staff appointments as part of efforts to strengthen operational effectiveness, enhance leadership capacity and address the nation’s evolving security challenges.
The redeployment, approved by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, is aimed at aligning the Army’s command structure with current security realities while ensuring experienced officers are positioned in critical operational theatres and strategic institutions.
The Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, noting that the exercise was designed to place the right leadership, experience and expertise in positions that would deliver decisive operational outcomes and improve national security.
According to the statement, Major General IA Ajose has been moved from the Army Headquarters Department of Army Operations to the Theatre Command Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, as Theatre Commander. Major General AE Abubakar, who previously held the position, has been redeployed to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre as Dean, Faculty of Operational Research.
Also affected by the redeployment is Major General AM Alechenu, who moves from Defence Headquarters Garrison to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, while Major General RT Utsaha has been transferred from the Army Headquarters Department of Army Standards and Evaluation to Defence Headquarters Garrison as Commander.
In another major reshuffle, Major General AM Umar has been redeployed from the Army Headquarters Department of Civil-Military Affairs to the Army War College Nigeria as Commandant, while Major General UM Alkali moves in the opposite direction to head the Department of Civil-Military Affairs.
The Army also announced that Major General GS Muhammed has been moved from the Office of the National Security Adviser to the Nigerian Army Finance Corporation as Director General. Major General JE Osifo has been transferred from the finance corporation to the Military Pension Board as Chairman.
Similarly, Major General IE Ekpenyong has been redeployed to the Defence Headquarters Department of Defence Logistics as Director of Engineering Services as part of efforts to strengthen logistics and engineering support operations.
At the operational level, Brigadier General AA Bello has been moved from 6 Division Garrison and Sector 3 Joint Task Force South-South, Operation DELTA SAFE, to the Defence Headquarters Department of Defence Operations.
Brigadier General MS Adamu has been redeployed from the Nigerian Army Women Command to the newly established 8 Brigade as Commander, while Brigadier General MS Sule has been transferred from Special Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE to 27 Task Force Brigade as Commander.
The postings also saw Brigadier General I Sule move from the Directorate of Recruitment Management to 6 Division Garrison as Commander, while Brigadier General E Azenda was transferred from the Land Forces Simulation Centre to 2 Division Garrison as Commander.
In the same vein, Brigadier General AS Bugaje has been redeployed from 2 Division Garrison to the Land Forces Simulation Centre as Director Administration.
Lieutenant General Shaibu charged the affected officers to justify the confidence reposed in them through exemplary leadership, professionalism, operational innovation and dedication to duty.
The Army Chief also urged them to remain focused on the constitutional responsibility of defending Nigeria’s sovereignty, protecting its territorial integrity and supporting civil authorities in maintaining peace and security across the country.
The Nigerian Army reiterated its commitment to sustaining a dynamic leadership and force-employment framework capable of improving operational outcomes, strengthening joint and inter-agency cooperation and responding effectively to both existing and emerging security threats in pursuit of Nigeria’s national security objectives.
