The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved the redeployment and appointment of several senior officers to key command, staff, and training positions across formations and institutions of the Nigerian Army.
According to a statement issued by Lt. Col. Appolonia Anele, Acting Director of Army Public Relations, the postings are intended to strengthen leadership, enhance command structures, and boost operational effectiveness.
Among the new appointments, Major General Bamidele Alabi was named Chief of Policy and Plans (Army) at the Army Headquarters, while Major General Jamal Abdulsalam moved to the Defence Headquarters as Chief of Defence Operations. Major General Peter Mala will now command the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) in Minna.
Others include Major General Samson Jiya, appointed Chief of Defence Accounts and Budget; Major General Mayirenso Saraso, now Chief of Operations (Army); and Major General Isa Abdullahi, the new Chief of Administration (Army).
Major General Musa Etsu-Ndagi assumes the role of Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, while Major General Abubakar Haruna becomes Commander of the Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC) in Kontagora. Major General Philip Ilodibia was moved to the Defence Space Administration as Chief of Defence Space Administration.
Other key 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
- Major General Mohammed Abdullahi as Corps Commander Signals
- Major General Taofik Sidick as Chief of Accounts and Budget (Army)
- Major General Abdullahi Ibrahim as Corps Commander Ordnance
- Major General Adeyinka Adereti as Corps Commander Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
- Major General Nansak Shagaya as Corps Commander Supply and Transport
- Brigadier General Yusha’u Ahmed as Acting Corps Commander Education
The Army chief also approved new commandant appointments. Major General Oluyemi Olatoye was named Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, while Major General Emmanuel Mustapha, Major General Adamu Hassan, and Brigadier General John Bulus were appointed commandants of the Nigerian Army Signal School, Nigerian Army School of Artillery, and Nigerian Army School of Finance and Accounts, respectively.
In field operations, Major General Saidu Audu becomes Force Commander of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in N’Djamena, Major General Warrah Idris now commands the Joint Task Force North West Operation Fansan Yamma, and Major General Oluremi Fadairo takes over as General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Enugu, and Commander Joint Task Force South East Operation Udoka.
The COAS also appointed Major General Olatokumbo Bello as Director of Defence Media Operations, while Brigadier General Samaila Uba becomes Director of Defence Information.
Lieutenant General Shaibu charged the newly appointed officers to apply their experience, discipline, and foresight to build a combat-ready army capable of tackling Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
He urged them to sustain operational momentum, deepen inter-agency cooperation, and uphold the Nigerian Army’s core values of loyalty, integrity, and excellence.
