The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved the posting and appointment of senior officers to key command, staff, and instructional positions across various formations, units, and training institutions of the Nigerian Army.
In a statement released by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, shortly after President Bola Tinubu decorated the COAS and other service chiefs with their new ranks on Thursday, the Army confirmed the new appointments.
Lieutenant Colonel Anele explained that the postings aim to reinvigorate leadership, strengthen command structures, and reposition the Nigerian Army for greater operational efficiency.
Lieutenant General Shaibu urged the newly appointed senior officers to apply their operational experience, administrative expertise, and strategic insight in developing a disciplined and combat-ready army capable of confronting current and emerging security threats.
He also encouraged them to sustain ongoing operations, enhance inter-agency cooperation, and remain steadfast in upholding the Army’s core values of loyalty, selfless service, integrity, and excellence.
Full List of Appointments:
Among the newly redeployed officers, 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, proceeds to the Defence Headquarters as Chief of Defence Operations. Major General Peter Mala transfers from the Office of the National Security Adviser to the Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) as Commander, and 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.
Other key appointments include Major General Mayirenso Saraso, now Chief of Operations (Army); Major General Isa Abdullahi, appointed Chief of Administration (Army); and Major General Musa Etsu-Ndagi, now Chief of Civil-Military Affairs. Major General Abubakar Haruna takes over as Commander of the Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC), Kontagora, while Major General Philip Ilodibia becomes Chief of Defence Space Administration.
Major General Godwin Mutkut assumes command of the Infantry Corps, and Major General Umar Abubakar now leads the Armour Corps. Major General John Adeyemo becomes Corps Commander, Artillery, while Major General Mohammed Abdullahi heads the Army Signals Corps.
Additionally, Major General Taofik Sidick has been appointed Chief of Accounts and Budget (Army), Major General Abdullahi Ibrahim becomes Corps Commander, Ordnance, and Major General Adeyinka Adereti takes over the Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Corps. Major General Nansak Shagaya now commands the Supply and Transport Corps, while Brigadier General Yusha’u Ahmed serves as Acting Corps Commander, Education.
The COAS also approved the appointment of Major General Oluyemi Olatoye as Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna; Major General Emmanuel Mustapha as Commandant, Nigerian Army Signal School; Major General Adamu Hassan as Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Artillery; and Brigadier General John Bulus as Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Finance and Accounts.
Field command appointments include Major General Saidu Audu, now Force Commander, Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), N’Djamena; Major General Warrah Idris, Commander, Joint Task Force North West Operation FANSAN YAMMA; and Major General Oluremi Fadairo, General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Enugu, and Commander, Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA.
In addition, Major General Olatokumbo Bello has been appointed Director, Defence Media Operations at the Defence Headquarters, while Brigadier General Samaila Uba moves from the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, to serve as Director, Defence Information.