By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved the posting and appointment of senior officers to key command, staff, and training positions within the Nigerian Army.
In a statement released on Thursday by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, the reshuffles are aimed at enhancing leadership, boosting operational efficiency, and strengthening ongoing military operations. The postings take effect immediately, the statement added.
Major General Bamidele Alabi has been named Chief of Policy and Plans at Army Headquarters, while Major General Jamal Abdulsalam has moved to Defence Headquarters as Chief of Defence Operations. Major General Peter Mala has been posted to the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) as Commander, and Major General Samson Jiya has been appointed Chief of Defence Accounts and Budget.
“In the same vein, Major General Samson Jiya, from Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre (NAHFC), to Defence Headquarters Department of Defence Accounts and Budget as Chief of Defence Accounts and Budget. Other strategic appointments include Major General Mayirenso Saraso from NAHFC to Army Headquarters Department of Operations, as Chief of Operations (Army), Major General Isa Abdullahi from Defence Headquarters to Army Headquarters Department of Administration as Chief of Administration (Army), Major General Musa Etsu-Ndagi from Army Headquarters to Department of Training to Army Headquarters Department of Civil-Military Affairs, as Chief of Civil-Military Affairs. Major General Abubakar Haruna from NAHFC to Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC), Kontagora as Commander and Major General Philip Ilodibia from Army Headquarters Department of Policy and Plans to Defence Space Administration as Chief of Defence Space Administration,” the statement partly read.
Other appointments include Major General Godwin Mutkut as Corps Commander Infantry, Major General Umar Abubakar as Commander Armour Corps, Major General John Adeyemo as Corps Commander Artillery, and Major General Mohammed Abdullahi as Corps Commander Signals. Major General Taofik Sidick becomes Chief of Accounts and Budget (Army), Major General Abdullahi Ibrahim is now Corps Commander Ordnance, Major General Adeyinka Adereti takes over as Corps Commander Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, and Major General Nansak Shagaya has been appointed Corps Commander Supply and Transport. Brigadier General Yusha’u Ahmed assumes the role of Acting Corps Commander, Education.
For training institutions, Major General Oluyemi Olatoye has been appointed Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy, while Major Generals Emmanuel Mustapha and Adamu Hassan, along with Brigadier General John Bulus, take over as Commandants of the Nigerian Army Signal School, Nigerian Army School of Artillery, and Nigerian Army School of Finance and Accounts, respectively.
The new field commanders include Major General Saidu Audu, Force Commander of the Multi-National Joint Task Force in N’Djamena; Major General Warrah Idris, Commander of Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA; and Major General Oluremi Fadairo, General Officer Commanding 82 Division and Commander of Joint Task Force South East, Operation UDO KA.
At Defence Headquarters, Major General Olatokumbo Bello has been named Director of Defence Media Operations, and Brigadier General Samaila Uba becomes Director of Defence Information. Both officers will serve as spokespersons for the Defence Headquarters.
Lieutenant General Shaibu urged the newly appointed officers to perform their duties with utmost professionalism, emphasising loyalty, selfless service, integrity, and excellence as guiding principles.
The announcement follows hours after President Bola Tinubu decorated Shaibu and other new service chiefs at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Others decorated include General Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Kennedy Aneke as Chief of Air Staff, and Vice Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff.