Abuja — The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved a major reshuffle in the Nigerian Army, redeploying several senior officers to strategic command, staff, and instructional positions in a move aimed at strengthening leadership and improving operational efficiency across the force.
According to an official statement from Army Headquarters, the shake-up is designed to “reinvigorate leadership, strengthen command structures, and reposition the Nigerian Army for heightened operational effectiveness.”
Among the most prominent appointments, Major General Bamidele Alabi has been redeployed to the Army Headquarters Department of Policy and Plans as the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army). Similarly, Major General Jamal Abdulsalam, who previously served as Chief of Special Services and Programmes, now proceeds to the Defence Headquarters Department of Operations as Chief of Defence Operations.
Also affected in the reorganization, Major General Peter Mala moves from the Office of the National Security Adviser to assume duty as Commander, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), while Major General Samson Jiya has been appointed Chief of Defence Accounts and Budget at the Defence Headquarters, following his redeployment from the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre (NAHFC).
In other key appointments, Major General Mayirenso Saraso becomes Chief of Operations (Army), Major General Isa Abdullahi takes over as Chief of Administration (Army), and Major General Musa Etsu-Ndagi assumes the position of Chief of Civil-Military Affairs (Army).
The restructuring also saw Major General Abubakar Haruna named Commander, Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC), Kontagora, and Major General Philip Ilodibia appointed Chief of Defence Space Administration at the Defence Space Administration.
At the corps level, Major General Godwin Mutkut moves from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in N’Djamena to become Corps Commander, Infantry, while Major General Umar Abubakar takes charge of the Armour Corps. Major General John Adeyemo is now Corps Commander, Artillery, and Major General Mohammed Abdullahi becomes Corps Commander, Signals.
Other appointments include 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, and Major General Nansak Shagaya as Corps Commander, Supply and Transport. Brigadier General Yusha’u Ahmed has also been named Acting Corps Commander, Education.
In the training institutions, Major General Oluyemi Olatoye, formerly with 82 Division/Joint Task Force South East (Operation UDO KA), has been appointed Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna. Major General Emmanuel Mustapha becomes Commandant, Nigerian Army Signal School, while Major General Adamu Hassan takes over as Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Artillery. In addition, Brigadier General John Bulus has been appointed Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Finance and Accounts.
The new postings, which take immediate effect, reflect the COAS’s commitment to continuous restructuring for improved professionalism and readiness in tackling emerging security challenges across the country.
Army Headquarters said the reshuffle underscores General Shaibu’s drive to ensure a disciplined, motivated, and combat-ready force capable of addressing Nigeria’s evolving defence and security needs.
