New COAS Shakes-up Army, Appoints Senior Officers to Strategic Commands and Staff Roles

By Adesina Soyooye

Less than 24 hours after he was decorated with a new rank and sworn-in as the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has shaken-up the Army.

In the shake-up, the new Army Chief appointed senior officers to Strategic Commands and Staff roles.

The shake-up, of course, was expected as in an unwritten policy, all officers senior in rank and/or Course to the new COAS will retire.

The announcement was made of the shake-up was made in a statement signed by Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director of Army Public Relation.

The appointments, she noted, reflect the COAS’s commitment to reinvigorating leadership and enhancing professionalism within the ranks.

The newly appointed officers include: Major General Bamidele Alabi now serves as Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), while Major General Jamal Abdulsalam moves to the Defence Headquarters as Chief of Defence Operations. Major General Peter Mala has been appointed Commander, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), and Major General Samson Jiya becomes Chief of Defence Accounts and Budget.

They, also, include Major General Mayirenso Saraso as Chief of Operations (Army), Major General Isa Abdullahi as Chief of Administration (Army), and Major General Musa Etsu-Ndagi as Chief of Civil-Military Affairs. Major General Abubakar Haruna assumes command at the Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC) Kontagora, while Major General Philip Ilodibia takes charge as Chief of Defence Space Administration.

At the Corps level, Major General Godwin Mutkut has been appointed 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.

In addition, Major General Taofik Sidick is now Chief of Accounts and Budget (Army), Major General Abdullahi Ibrahim becomes Corps Commander Ordnance, and Major General Adeyinka Adereti assumes command of the Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Major General Nansak Shagaya now leads the Corps of Supply and Transport, while Brigadier General Yusha’u Ahmed takes charge as Acting Corps Commander Education.

Other appointments are: Major General Oluyemi Olatoye named Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Major General Emmanuel Mustapha as Commandant, Nigerian Army Signal School, and Major General Adamu Hassan as Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Artillery. Brigadier General John Bulus was also appointed Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Finance and Accounts.

In the field, Major General Saidu Audu takes over as Force Commander, Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) N’Djamena; Major General Warrah Idris takes over command of the Joint Task Force North West OperationFANSAN YAMMA; and Major General Oluremi Fadairo becomes General Officer Commanding 82 Division and Commander, Joint Task Force South East OperationUDO KA.

Major General Olatokumbo Bello was appointed Director of Defence Media Operations, while Brigadier General Samaila Uba becomes Director of Defence Information at the Defence Headquarters.