By Adebari Oguntoye
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has approved the posting/appointment of some senior officers to various command, staff, and instructional positions.
Army spokesman Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, who announced this in a statement on Saturday, January 11, explained the posting/appointment was part of the COAS strategic moves to enhance operational effectiveness and administrative efficiency of the Nigerian Army.
Maj.-Gen. Nwachukwu said the redeployment also underscores the Nigerian Army’s commitment to ensuring a robust and dynamic leadership structure capable of addressing emerging security challenges.
He said the redeployment cuts across Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) at the Army Headquarters (AHQ), General Officers Commanding (GOCs), Corps Commanders, Commandants of Army training institutions, Brigade Commanders, and other key positions.
Some of the senior officers appointed as Principal Staff Officers at the Army Headquarters, according to the army spokesman, are Maj.-Gen. LA Fejokwuw, who is moved from the National Defence College to the Department of Army Administration and appointed Chief of Administration (Army); Maj.-Gen. GU Chibuisi, from the Nigerian Army Resource Centre to the Department of Civil Military Affairs and appointed Chief of Civil Military Affairs; and Maj.-Gen. AS Ndalolo, also from the Nigerian Army Resource Centre to the Department of Army Training and appointed Chief of Training (Army).
Others are Maj.-Gen OS Abai, from the Department of Army Training to the Department of Army Transformation and Innovation, appointed Chief of Transformation and Innovation, and Maj.-Gen JH Abdussalam, from Headquarters 6 Division to the Department of Special Services and Programmes, and appointed Chief of Special Services and Programmes. Maj.-Gen. EI Okoro has been redeployed from the Department of Army Logistics to the Department of Military Secretary and appointed Military Secretary (Army).
The senior officers appointed as General Officers Commanding (GOCs), according to Maj.-Gen. Nwachukwu, include Maj.-Gen. OT Olatoye from the Nigerian Army School of Infantry to Headquarters 82 Division/Joint Task Force (JTF) South East Operation UDO KA (OPUK) as GOC 82 Division/Commander JTF OPUK and Maj.-Gen. EF Oyinlola from the Department of Military Secretary to Headquarters 3 Division as GOC 3 Division/Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH).
The Army spokesman said that the COAS has also confirmed the appointment of Maj.-Gen. AGL Haruna as GOC 7 Division/Commander Sector 1 JTF North East Operation HADIN KAI and Maj. Gen. IA Ajose as GOC 8 Division/Commander Sector 2 JTF North West Operation FANSAN YANMA; respectively, respectively have been confirmed as substantive in the recent redeployment.
He said: “Other senior officers redeployed are Maj.-Gen. GO Adeshina from Headquarters Nigerian Army Signals to Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre and appointed Director General, while Maj.-Gen. GM Mutkut is posted from Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre to Headquarters MultiNational Joint Task Force Njamena as the Force Commander.
“The redeployment also featured Maj Gen MC Kangye from Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery to Defence Headquarters as the DDirector ofMedia Operations.
“Senior officers appointed as Corps Commanders include Maj.-Gen. OC Ajunwa from the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre to Headquarters Nigerian Army Armour Corps and appointed Commander, Maj.-Gen. HT Wesley from the Department of Special Services and Programmes to Headquarters Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps and appointed Commander, and Maj.-Gen. TT Numbere from the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre to Headquarters Nigerian Army Engineers and appointed Commander. Others include Maj.-Gen. NC Ugbo from the Department of Civil Military Affairs to Headquarters Nigerian Army Signals and appointed Commander, Maj.-Gen. ZL Abubakar from the Department of Army Transformation and Innovation to Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery and appointed Commander, and Maj.-Gen. AP Oguntola from the Nigerian Army College of Education Science and Technology to Headquarters Nigerian Army Education Corps and appointed Corps Commander.
“Other senior officers also affected in the redeployment are Maj.-Gen. JO Sokoya, appointed Commandant of the Nigerian Army Training Centre; Maj.-Gen. UM Alkali, appointed Commandant of the Army War College Nigeria; and Maj.-Gen. FS Etim from the Department of Army Transformation and Innovation, who is redeployed to the Nigerian Army School of Infantry and appointed Commandant. Maj.-Gen. AB Mohammed has been redeployed from the Department of Army Operations to Depot Nigerian Army and appointed commandant.
“Other newly appointed senior officers are Maj.-Gen. IE Ekpenyong, now Commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering, and Maj.-Gen. AO Adegbite, appointed Commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport, while Brig.-Gen. AM Umar is redeployed from the Army War College Nigeria to the Warrant Officers Academy and appointed Commandant, among others.”
Maj.-Gen. Nwachukwu said the COAS charged newly appointed senior officers to bring renewed vigor, dedication, and commitment to their duties, “particularly while ensuring the sustenance of the ongoing onslaught against terrorism, insurgency, and other threats to national security.”
“He equally charged them to ensure that the welfare of troops remains paramount as they assume their new appointments,” he said.