COAS Reshuffles Senior Officers, Appoints Key Commanders

By Zainab Bakare

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved the posting and appointment of senior officers to strategic command, staff, and instructional positions across formations, units, and training institutions of the Nigerian Army.

The appointments, according to a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, are part of efforts to reinvigorate command structures and reposition the Nigerian Army for greater effectiveness in addressing current and emerging security challenges.

Among the new appointments are Major General Bamidele Alabi who has been redeployed to the Army Headquarters Department of Policy and Plans as Chief of Policy and Plans (Army).

Major General Jamal Abdulsalam moves to the Defence Headquarters as Chief of Defence Operations, while Major General Peter Mala takes over as Commander, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Minna.

Similarly, Major General Samson Jiya has been appointed Chief of Defence Accounts and Budget at Defence Headquarters.

Other key appointments 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 now commands the Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC), Kontagora, while Major General Philip Ilodibia becomes Chief of Defence Space Administration.

Major General Godwin Mutkut takes over as Corps Commander Infantry, Major General Umar Abubakar as Commander Armour Corps, and Major General John Adeyemo as Corps Commander Artillery.

Major General Mohammed Abdullahi assumes the role of Corps Commander Signals.

Additionally, Major General Taofik Sidick has been appointed 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, and Major General Nansak Shagaya as Corps Commander Supply and Transport.

Brigadier General Yusha’u Ahmed has been appointed Acting Corps Commander Education.

At the training level, Major General Oluyemi Olatoye becomes Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna.

Major General Emmanuel Mustapha is appointed Commandant, Nigerian Army Signal School; Major General Adamu Hassan becomes Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Artillery; and Brigadier General John Bulus takes charge as Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Finance and Accounts.

Senior officers deployed as field commanders include Major General Saidu Audu, appointed Force Commander, Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), N’Djamena; Major General Warrah Idris, Commander, Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA; and Major General Oluremi Fadairo, General Officer Commanding 82 Division and Commander, Joint Task Force South East, Operation UDO KA.

In the area of defence communication, Major General Olatokumbo Bello has been appointed Director, Defence Media Operations, while Brigadier General Samaila Uba becomes Director, Defence Information.

Lieutenant General Shaibu charged the newly appointed officers to demonstrate professionalism, discipline, and strategic foresight in their new roles.

He urged them to sustain operational momentum, enhance interagency cooperation, and uphold the Nigerian Army’s core values of loyalty, integrity, selfless service, and excellence.