Army announces major reshuffle of senior officers

…names new GOCs, commanders

The Nigerian Army has carried out a major reshuffle of its senior officers, announcing new appointments across operational, command, training and administrative positions.

The changes, approved by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, affect General Officers Commanding, brigade commanders, commandants of military institutions and senior officers at the Army Headquarters.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, said the redeployment was designed to strengthen the Army’s operational capacity and improve its response to evolving security threats across the country.

According to the statement, the postings cover field commanders, principal staff officers and heads of key military institutions.

Under the new appointments, Major General WM Dangana takes over as General Officer Commanding 3 Division Nigerian Army and Commander of Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE, succeeding Major General EF Oyinlola.

Major General EI Okoro was appointed General Officer Commanding 6 Division Nigerian Army and Land Component Commander of Joint Task Force South-South Operation DELTA SAFE, replacing Major General EE Emeka.

The Army also named Major General JR Lar as Commander of Army Headquarters Garrison, while Brigadier General OM Oyekola was appointed Acting Military Secretary (Army). Brigadier General I Waziri will continue to serve as Chief of Staff in the Office of the Chief of Army Staff.

To strengthen operational effectiveness, Brigadier General IB Buhari was posted as Commander of Headquarters 63 Brigade, while Brigadier General K Rabiu was appointed Commander of Headquarters 31 Artillery Brigade.

In another key appointment, Major General SA Emmanuel was named Commander of the Nigerian Army Space Command, a position the Army said reflects its increasing focus on technology and emerging security challenges.

The statement noted that the appointment “reinforces the Army’s growing focus on emerging domains of warfare and technology-driven security operations.”

Major General O Adegbe was also appointed Director of Intelligence and Security at Defence Headquarters.

Within the military training and education sector, Major General KE Chigbu was named Deputy Commandant of the National Defence College, while Major General SD Makolo was appointed Commandant of the Nigerian Army Armour School.

Other appointments include Major General SO Adejimi as Commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport and Major General FS Etim as Chief of Training at the Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command, Nigerian Army (TRADOC).

Brigadier General U Ahmad was appointed Commandant of Depot Nigerian Army, Zaria.

The reshuffle also saw Major General KO Ukandu appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Post Housing Development Limited, while Major General AI Allison was named Managing Director of Defence Properties Limited.

The statement added, “The COAS charged the newly appointed senior officers to justify the confidence reposed in them by demonstrating exemplary leadership, professionalism, innovation and unwavering commitment to the Nigerian Army’s constitutional mandate of defending Nigeria’s sovereignty, protecting its territorial integrity and supporting civil authority in maintaining peace and security across the nation.

“The Nigerian Army remains resolute in its transformation drive and commitment to building a highly professional, combat-ready and people-oriented force capable of effectively addressing contemporary and future security challenges in pursuit of Nigeria’s national security objectives.”