In a quest to enhance administrative and operational efficiency within the Nigerian Army (NA), the recently appointed Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, has authorized a series of appointments and redeployments of senior officers across various NA formations and units across the country.
The latest redeployments affect a number of Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) of the Defence and Army Headquarters, Corps Commanders, Commandants of NA Training Institutions, Brigade Commanders, Commanding officers, and other key positions.
Among the notable changes is the appointment of Major General VU Okoro, who has been moved from the Department of Army Operations to Headquarters 2 Division, assuming the role of General Officer Commanding (GOC).
Additionally, Major General HT Dada, previously with the Defence Intelligence Agency, has been assigned as the GOC of Headquarters 82 Division.
Major General MT Usman has been redeployed as the GOC of 81 Division from his previous post at HQ 2 Division. Major General KA Isoni has been designated as the Commander of Army Headquarters Garrison, while Major General AE Abubakar will take over as the GOC and Commander of Operation SAFE HAVEN at Headquarters 3 Division NA, having been redeployed from Headquarters 7 Division/Sector 1 OPHK.
Several Corps Commanders have also been appointed, including Major General GO Adesina, who has been redeployed from Defence Headquarters to Headquarters NA Signals Corps. Major General OO Oluyede has assumed the position of Corps Commander at Headquarters Infantry Corps after serving in the Office of the COAS Directorate of Inspection and Compliance. Major General HG Tafida has been moved from DICON to Headquarters Nigerian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers as the new Corps Commander.
Major General EL Ugwuoke has been appointed as the Corps Commander Nigerian Army Ordinance Corps, coming from the AHQ Department of Logistics. Brigadier General SI Musa has been named the Acting Director Legal Service, while Brigadier General ND Shagaya now holds the position of Commandant at the Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport.
Furthermore, several Principal Staff Officers from the Defence and Army Headquarters have been redeployed to different positions. Major General EV Onumajuru, formerly with the Department of Special Services and Programmes (Army), has been appointed Chief of Defence Operations at the Defence Headquarters. Major General ES Buba, previously serving in the Defence Intelligence Agency, now assumes the role of Director Defence Media Operations at the Defence Headquarters. Major General OR Aiyenigba, from the Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police, is now the Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation. Major General OJ Akpor has been named Chief of Administration (Army). Other appointments include Major General HT Wesley as Chief of Special Services and Programmes (Army) at Army Headquarters, Major General Y Yahaya as Chief of Personnel Management at the Department of Personnel Management, and Major General IM Jallo as Director Inspection and Compliance at the Office of the COAS, having moved from the Army Headquarters Department of Policy and Plans.
In addition, several senior officers have been affected by the redeployments. Major General EA Anaryu has been moved from the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre to the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, where he will serve as Deputy Commandant. Brigadier General NJ Edet has been transferred from Headquarters 9 Brigade to Headquarters 14 Brigade, assuming the position of the new commander. Brigadier General JIB Manjang has been redeployed from the Army War College Nigeria to the Nigerian Army College of Logistics and Management, where he will serve as the Deputy Commandant, among several other changes.
The Nigerian Army emphasizes that redeployments are routine, especially following the recent retirement of senior officers due to the new Army leadership appointments. The redeployments will take effect on July 3, 2023.