From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved a strategic reshuffle of senior officers across key operational, command, training, and staff appointments within the Nigerian Army (NA) as part of ongoing efforts to enhance operational effectiveness, strengthen national security, and consolidate the Army’s capacity to address emerging security challenges across the country.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Alene, said the appointments affected field commanders, school commandants, and principal staff officers at Army Headquarters.
According to the statement, the new postings include Major General WM Dangana as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division Nigerian Army and Commander of Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE, replacing Major General EF Oyinlola. Major General EI Okoro has been appointed General Officer Commanding 6 Division Nigerian Army and Land Component Commander of Joint Task Force South-South Operation DELTA SAFE, replacing Major General EE Emeka.
Major General JR Lar has been appointed Commander, Army Headquarters Garrison, while Brigadier General OM Oyekola assumes office as Acting Military Secretary (Army). Brigadier General I Waziri remains Chief of Staff in the Office of the Chief of Army Staff.
As part of efforts to deepen operational leadership and force readiness, Brigadier General IB Buhari has been appointed Commander, Headquarters 63 Brigade, while Brigadier General K Rabiu takes command of Headquarters 31 Artillery Brigade. Major General SA Emmanuel has been appointed Commander, Nigerian Army Space Command, reinforcing the Army’s growing focus on emerging domains of warfare and technology-driven security operations.
Major General O Adegbe has also been appointed Director of Intelligence and Security at Defence Headquarters.
In the area of professional military education and institutional development, Major General KE Chigbu has been appointed Deputy Commandant of the National Defence College, while Major General SD Makolo becomes Commandant, Nigerian Army Armour School. Major General SO Adejimi has been appointed Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport, while Major General FS Etim assumes office as Chief of Training at Headquarters, Training and Doctrine Command Nigerian Army (TRADOC NA). Brigadier General U Ahmad has been appointed Commandant, Depot Nigerian Army, Zaria.
Other appointments include Major General KO Ukandu as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Post Housing Development Limited (PHDL) and Major General AI Allison as Managing Director of Defence Properties Limited.
The COAS charged the newly appointed senior officers to justify the confidence reposed in them by demonstrating exemplary leadership, professionalism, innovation, and unwavering commitment to the Nigerian Army’s constitutional mandate of defending Nigeria’s sovereignty, protecting its territorial integrity, and supporting civil authorities in maintaining peace and security across the nation.
The statement added that the Nigerian Army remains resolute in its transformation drive and committed to building a highly professional, combat-ready, and people-oriented force capable of effectively addressing contemporary and future security challenges in pursuit of Nigeria’s national security objectives.
