New Army Chief Lagbaja Appoints Principal Officers, GOCs, Others

The new Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, has approved the posting and appointment of some senior officers of the Nigeria Army (NA) to command, instructional and staff appointments across NA formations and units in the country.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, said the move was part an effort to reposition the Nigeria Army for operational efficiency and functional administration.

The Army Chief directed all newly appointed senior officers to redouble their effort and commitment to duty in ensuring the sustenance of the ongoing onslaught against terrorism, insurgency and other threats to national security, as they assume their new responsibilities.

Those affected in the recent redeployment include; some Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) of the Army Headquarters (AHQ), General Officers Commanding (GOCs), Corps Commanders, Commandants of  training institutions, Brigade Commanders, Commanding Officers, amongst others.

In the new development, Maj Gen GU Chibuisi has been moved from HQ Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) Ndjamena to Theatre Command Joint Task Force North-East Operation (OPHK) and appointed Theatre Commander, while Maj. Gen. IS Ali is redeployed from Theatre Command Joint Task Force NE OPHK to HQ MNJTF as the Force Commander and Maj. Gen. EAP Undiandeye, whose redeployment from Martin Luther Agwai International Peace Keeping Centre to Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) as Chief of Defence Intelligence has been formalised.

Other senior officers appointed as PSOs of the AHQ include; Maj. Gen. AB Ibrahim who was posted from Headquarters 3 Division NA to the Department of Policy and Plans (DAPP) and  appointed Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Maj Gen BR Sinjen posted from Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery (NACA) to the Department of Army Operations (DAOPs) and appointed Chief of Operations (Army) and Maj Gen OR Aiyenigba from Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police to Department of Army Standards and Evaluation and appointed Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation (Army).

Others are Maj Gen NC Ugbo from Nigerian Army Signals School to Department of Civil Military Affairs and appointed Chief of Civil-Military Affairs and Maj. Gen. E Akerejola from Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport to Army Headquarters Department of Logistics as the Chief of Logistics (Army).

Senior officers appointed as General Officers Commanding (GOCs) are Major General BA Alabi from Army War College Nigeria (AWCN) to Headquarters 1 Division as GOC, Maj Gen AE Abubakar from Headquarters  7 Division to 3 Division as GOC 3 Division/ Commander Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) and Maj Gen PP Mala, who was posted from Depot Nigerian Army  to Headquarters  7 Division as GOC/Commander, Sector 1 Joint Task North-East (NE)  Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK).

Senior officers appointed as Corps Commanders include Maj Gen OO Oluyede as the Commander Infantry Corps, Maj Gen MG Kangye moves from Department of Civil Military Affairs (DCMA) to Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery and appointed Commander.

Others are Maj Gen AA Adeyinka from Nigerian Army College of Logistics and Management (NACOLM) to Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport and appointed Commander.

Other senior officers also affected in the redeployment are Maj General KO Aligbe, who was appointed as Commander Training and Doctrine Command, Maj Gen JO Ochai, from Defence Headquarters to Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and appointed  Commandant, Maj Gen IB Maina posted from  Department of Policy and Plans to Army War College Nigeria and appointed Commandant.

Equally redeployed  are Brig Gen TB Ugiagbe, who is appointed Acting Chief of Military Intelligence (Army), Brig Gen OG Onubogu from Headquarters Infantry Corps Centre to Martin Luther Agwai International Peace Keeping Centre as Commandant, while Brig Gen N Ashinze moves from Department of Civil-Military Cooperation to Defence Intelligence Agency as Director Fusion.

The statement added that the Nigerian Army has also formalised the redeployment of Col. AO Onasanya from Army War College Nigeria to Headquarters Guards Brigade as Acting  Commander.