The newly appointed Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, on Thursday, carried out a large-scale reorganization within the Nigerian Army, redeploying senior officers to various command, staff, and training roles.
In a statement issued by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Appolonia Anele, the postings were designed to “strengthen leadership, improve command efficiency, and enhance ongoing operations.”
The sweeping reshuffle followed shortly after President Bola Tinubu decorated the new service chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, urging them to deliver decisive victories against insurgency, banditry, and other security threats.
According to the army spokesperson, the new appointments take immediate effect.
Key Appointments and Postings
Among those affected is Maj. Gen. Bamidele Alabi, now Chief of Policy and Plans at the Army Headquarters. Maj. Gen. Jamal Abdulsalam has been moved to the Defence Headquarters as Chief of Defence Operations, while Maj. Gen. Peter Mala assumes command of the Training and Doctrine Command.
Maj. Gen. Samson Jiya was redeployed from the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre to the Defence Headquarters as Chief of Defence Accounts and Budget. Similarly, Maj. Gen. Mayirenso Saraso becomes the Chief of Operations (Army), and Maj. Gen. Isa Abdullahi moves to head Administration at the Army Headquarters.
Other strategic appointments include Maj. Gen. Musa Etsu-Ndagi, who now serves as Chief of Civil-Military Affairs; Maj. Gen. Abubakar Haruna, Commander of the Nigerian Army Training Centre, Kontagora; and Maj. Gen. Philip Ilodibia, now Chief of Defence Space Administration.
In the combat arms, Maj. Gen. Godwin Mutkut now commands the Infantry Corps, Maj. Gen. Umar Abubakar leads the Armour Corps, while Maj. Gen. John Adeyemo and Maj. Gen. Mohammed Abdullahi take charge of the Artillery and Signals Corps, respectively.
Maj. Gen. Taofik Sidick is now Chief of Accounts and Budget (Army); Maj. Gen. Abdullahi Ibrahim becomes Corps Commander, Ordnance; Maj. Gen. Adeyinka Adereti takes over as Corps Commander, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers; and Maj. Gen. Nansak Shagaya assumes leadership of the Supply and Transport Corps. Brigadier General Yusha’u Ahmed has been appointed Acting Corps Commander, Education.
In the training institutions, Maj. Gen. Oluyemi Olatoye was named Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy, while Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Mustapha, Maj. Gen. Adamu Hassan, and Brigadier General John Bulus were appointed Commandants of the Nigerian Army Signal School, the Army School of Artillery, and the Army School of Finance and Accounts, respectively.
For operational commands, Maj. Gen. Saidu Audu is now Force Commander of the Multi-National Joint Task Force in N’Djamena; Maj. Gen. Warrah Idris heads Operation FANSAN YAMMA in the North-West; and Maj. Gen. Oluremi Fadairo becomes the General Officer Commanding 82 Division and Commander of Operation UDO KA in the South-East.
Lt. Gen. Shaibu also appointed Maj. Gen. Olatokumbo Bello as Director of Defence Media Operations and Brigadier General Samaila Uba as Director of Defence Information — both spokespersons for the Defence Headquarters.
Shaibu urged the officers to carry out their duties with professionalism, loyalty, integrity, and selfless service.
Tinubu’s Charge To Service Chiefs
Earlier at the State House, President Tinubu decorated the service chiefs — Gen. Olufemi Oluyede (Chief of Defence Staff), Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye (Chief of Defence Intelligence), Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu (Chief of Army Staff), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas (Chief of Naval Staff), and Air Marshal Sunday Aneke (Chief of Air Staff).
The President, assisted by the service chiefs’ spouses, charged them to “deliver results, not excuses,” emphasizing the urgency of defeating terrorism and criminality.
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“We cannot allow the crisis that began in 2009 to persist any longer. Nigerians expect results, not excuses,” Tinubu said. “Let us deploy technology where necessary and stay ahead of those who seek to threaten our peace.”
Tinubu further warned against the emergence of new security threats, saying, “Security threats are constantly evolving and mutating. We must be decisive and proactive. Let us smash the new snakes right at the head.”
The President lauded the military for reclaiming territories and rescuing kidnapped citizens, adding that his administration remained committed to equipping the forces for maximum efficiency.
“We have restored peace to many areas previously under siege, rescued countless kidnapped citizens, and significantly diminished the capacity of terror groups. There were times when terrorists and armed marauders held significant portions of our land; this is no longer the case,” he said.
He called for synergy across the armed forces and intelligence agencies, urging collaboration and information sharing.
“I advise you to work together as a team. Compare notes, exchange information effectively, and follow up proactively to ensure a seamless process. Work with other security agencies and defeat this enemy once and for all. We need to clean them up, clear them out,” Tinubu said.
Service Chiefs Assume Duty
Following their decoration, the new military leaders formally resumed duties at their respective headquarters.
At the Defence Headquarters, the new Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, pledged to promote intelligence-driven operations and inter-agency cooperation.
“We shall enhance intelligence-driven operations and deepen collaboration with other security and law enforcement agencies to restore and sustain peace and stability across the country,” he stated during the handover ceremony.
He emphasized troop welfare, noting that poor housing, delayed compensation, and low morale have long undermined military efficiency. “Under my leadership, the Defence Headquarters will continue to advocate improved welfare, housing, medical support, and training opportunities for personnel and their families,” Oluyede added.
At the Army Headquarters, Lt. Gen. Shaibu vowed to take swift and decisive measures against insecurity. “I will carefully and swiftly review the situation and deploy appropriate strategies to mitigate and ultimately defeat the threat,” he said. “I want to assure Mr. President and our Commander-in-Chief, as well as Nigerians, that we shall not disappoint the nation.”
The new Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, promised to prioritize welfare and sustain ongoing operations, saying, “I promise to ensure that the welfare needs of all officers, airmen, airwomen, and their family members are promptly addressed to motivate them for improved productivity.”
Similarly, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, pledged to intensify the fight against crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, and other maritime crimes. “These crimes not only undermine our national economy and energy security, but also threaten the livelihoods of our coastal communities,” he said.
Abbas assured that discipline, accountability, and personnel welfare would guide his leadership.
The House of Representatives later confirmed the new service chiefs after adopting the screening report presented by an ad hoc committee led by Babajimi Benson.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session, congratulated the officers, urging them to “deploy their years of experience and expertise to secure Nigerians and their property day and night.”
Thursday’s reshuffle marks the second major reorganization of the Armed Forces since President Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.