By: Kingsley Omonobi

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Olufemi Oluyede has appointed new General Officers Commanding (GOCs), new Principal Staff Officers (PSOs), new Corps Commanders and a new Commander, Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in a strategic move to enhance operational effectiveness and administrative efficiency.

The newly appointed GOCs are Major General OT Olatoye from Nigerian Army School of Infantry to Headquarters 82 Division/Joint Task Force (JTF) South East Operation Udoka (OPUK) as GOC 82 Division/Commander JTF OPUK and Maj Gen EF Oyinlola from Department of Military Secretary to Headquarters 3 Division as GOC 3 Division/ Commander Operation Safe Haven (OPSH).

Other GOCs whose acting appointments were confirmed are 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 Fasan Yanma.

Maj Gen GM Mutkut is posted from Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre to Headquarters Multi-National Joint Task Force Njamena as the Force Commander while Maj Gen GO Adeshina is redeployed from Headquarters Nigerian Army Signals to Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre and appointed Director General.

Some of the senior officers appointed as PSOs at the Army Headquarters include Maj Gen LA Fejokwu, from National Defence College to Department of Army Administration and appointed Chief of Administration (Army), Maj Gen GU Chibuisi, from Nigerian Army Resource Centre to 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 Department of Army Training and appointed Chief of Training (Army).

Others include 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 redeployment also featured Maj Gen MC Kangye from Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery to Defence Headquarters as the Director of Media Operations.

Senior officers appointed as Corps Commanders include Maj Gen OC Ajunwa from 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, appointed Commander

Maj Gen TT Numbere from Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre to Headquarters Nigerian Army Engineers and appointed Commander.

Maj Gen NC Ugbo moves from Department of Civil Military Affairs to Headquarters Nigerian Army Signals and appointed Commander, Maj Gen ZL Abubakar from Department of Army Transformation and Innovation to Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery and appointed Commander.

Maj Gen AP Oguntola from Nigerian Army College of Education Science and Technology to Headquarters Nigerian Army Education Corps and appointed Corps Commander.

Other senior officers also affected by the redeployment are Maj Gen JO Sokoya, appointed Commandant Nigerian Army Training Centre, Maj Gen UM Alkali appointed Commandant Army War College Nigeria, while Maj Gen FS Etim from the Department of Army Transformation and Innovation is redeployed to Nigerian Army School of Infantry, 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 Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering and Maj Gen AO Adegbite appointed Commandant of Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport, while Brig Gen AM Umar is redeployed from Army War College Nigeria to Warrant Officers Academy and appointed Commandant, among others.

A statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu said, “The Chief of Army Staff has directed all newly appointed senior officers to bring renewed vigour, 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 remained paramount as they assumed their new appointments.

“The reshuffling underscores Nigerian Army’s commitment to ensuring robust and dynamic leadership structure capable of addressing emerging security challenges.”