Army Redeploys Senior Generals In Major Shake-Up
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Waidi Shaibu, has approved the redeployment of several senior officers to key command, operational and staff positions across the Nigerian Army.
The Army said the exercise was aimed at strengthening operational effectiveness and repositioning its leadership structure to respond more effectively to the country’s evolving security challenges.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Army spokesperson, Appolonia Anele, said Maj Gen I.A. Ajose had been redeployed from the Army Headquarters, Department of Army Operations, to the Theatre Command, Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, as Theatre Commander.
He replaces Maj Gen A.E. Abubakar, who has been moved from the theatre command to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, where he will serve as Dean, Faculty of Operational Research.
Also redeployed to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre is Maj Gen A.M. Alechenu, who is moving from the Defence Headquarters Garrison.
Meanwhile, Maj Gen R.T. Utsaha has been redeployed from the Army Headquarters, Department of Army Standards and Evaluation, to the Defence Headquarters Garrison as Commander.
Anele said the postings were designed to prioritise critical operational theatres and strategic appointments by deploying officers with the requisite leadership experience and expertise.
Under the new appointments, Maj Gen A.M. Umar is moving from the Army Headquarters, Department of Civil-Military Affairs, to the Army War College Nigeria as Commandant, while Maj Gen U.M. Alkali is moving from the college to the Department of Civil-Military Affairs.
Maj Gen G.S. Muhammed has also been redeployed from the Office of the National Security Adviser to the Nigerian Army Finance Corporation as Director-General.
Similarly, Maj Gen J.E. Osifo is moving from the Nigerian Army Finance Corporation to the Military Pension Board as Chairman.
The redeployments also affect other senior officers across operational and administrative formations of the Army.
Maj Gen I.E. Ekpenyong has been posted to the Defence Headquarters, Department of Defence Logistics, as Director, Engineering Services.
At the operational level, Brig Gen A.A. Bello is moving from 6 Division Garrison/Sector 3, Joint Task Force South-South, Operation Delta Safe, to the Defence Headquarters, Department of Defence Operations.
Brig Gen M.S. Adamu has been redeployed from the Nigerian Army Women Command to the newly established 8 Brigade as Commander, while Brig Gen M.S. Sule is moving from the Special Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace, to 27 Task Force Brigade as Commander.
Similarly, Brig Gen I. Sule has been redeployed from the Directorate of Recruitment Management to 6 Division Garrison as Commander, while Brig Gen E. Azenda is moving from the Land Forces Simulation Centre to 2 Division Garrison as Commander.
Brig Gen A.S. Bugaje, who previously commanded 2 Division Garrison, has been redeployed to the Land Forces Simulation Centre as Director, Administration.
The Army spokesperson said the Chief of Army Staff had charged all the newly appointed officers to justify the confidence reposed in them through effective leadership, innovation and professionalism.
“The COAS has charged the newly appointed officers to justify the confidence reposed in them through exemplary leadership, operational innovation, professionalism and unwavering commitment to duty and relentless focus on the constitutional mandate of defending Nigeria’s sovereignty, protecting its territorial integrity and supporting civil authority in maintaining peace and security,” the statement said.