Army Reshuffles 18 Senior Officers In Strategic Command Shake-Up

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved a strategic reshuffle involving 18 senior officers across key operational, command, training and staff appointments, in a move aimed at strengthening the Nigerian Army’s operational effectiveness and enhancing its response to evolving security challenges across the country.

The redeployment, announced in a statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, affects field commanders, commandants of military institutions and principal staff officers at the Army Headquarters.

According to Anele, the exercise is part of the Army’s ongoing transformation drive to bolster national security, improve operational efficiency and consolidate its capacity to tackle emerging threats.

Among the key changes, Major General WM Dangana has been appointed General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division, Nigerian Army, and Commander of Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE, replacing Major General EF Oyinlola.

Major General EI Okoro has been named General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Nigerian Army, and Land Component Commander, Joint Task Force South-South Operation DELTA SAFE, taking over from Major General EE Emeka.

Major General JR Lar has been appointed Commander, Army Headquarters Garrison, while Brigadier General OM Oyekola assumes office as Acting Military Secretary (Army). Brigadier General I Waziri will remain Chief of Staff to the Chief of Army Staff.

The reshuffle also saw Brigadier General IB Buhari appointed Commander, Headquarters 63 Brigade, while Brigadier General K Rabiu takes over command of Headquarters 31 Artillery Brigade.

In a move reflecting the Army’s growing emphasis on technology-driven security operations, Major General SA Emmanuel has been appointed Commander of the Nigerian Army Space Command.

Other appointments include Major General O Adegbe as Director of Intelligence and Security at Defence Headquarters; Major General KE Chigbu as Deputy Commandant of the National Defence College; Major General SD Makolo as Commandant of the Nigerian Army Armour School; 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).

Also redeployed are Brigadier General U Ahmad, who takes over as Commandant of Depot Nigerian Army, Zaria; Major General KO Ukandu, who becomes Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Post Housing Development Limited (PHDL); and Major General AI Allison, who has been appointed Managing Director of Defence Properties Limited.

Lieutenant General Shaibu 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 authorities in maintaining peace and security across the nation.

The Army Chief expressed confidence that the redeployment would further strengthen the service’s operational capacity and improve command effectiveness in the face of Nigeria’s evolving security environment.

The Nigerian Army also reaffirmed its commitment to its transformation agenda, pledging to build a highly professional, combat-ready and people-oriented force capable of effectively addressing both current and future security challenges in pursuit of the country’s national security objectives.