The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has approved a major reshuffle in the Nigerian Army’s leadership, affecting senior officers across key command, training, and staff positions nationwide.
The development was announced in a statement released by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, on Sunday. According to the statement, the move is part of the Army Chief’s strategy to strengthen operational efficiency and improve leadership within the ranks.
Lt. Col. Anele stated that the redeployment and appointments are aimed at repositioning the Nigerian Army to better respond to current security challenges, including terrorism, banditry, and insurgency, particularly in the North-East and North-West regions.
Among the top postings, several senior officers have been appointed as Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
– Major General AA Adeyinka was moved from the Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport to the Department of Army Logistics as the Chief of Logistics (Army).
– Major General AA Adekeye is now the Chief of Personnel Management (Army), following his redeployment from the Department of Standard and Evaluation.
– Major General TB Ugiagbe, formerly with the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps, is now the Chief of Standard and Evaluation (Army).
In the intelligence and disciplinary sectors:
– Major General AA Idris takes over as the new Chief of Military Intelligence (Army).
– Major General MO Erebulu has been appointed as the Provost Marshall (Army), a key role in military policing and internal discipline.
Other notable appointments include:
-Major General EA Anaryu as Corps Commander, Supply and Transport
– Major General SA Akesode as Head of the African Union Verification Mission in Tigray, Ethiopia
– Major General JE Osifo as Director General of the Nigerian Army Finance Corporation
These appointments are expected to inject new energy into the leadership of the Army and ensure smoother logistics, personnel management, and operational planning.
The reshuffle also saw the appointment of new General Officers Commanding (GOCs), who will lead major Army divisions responsible for field operations.
– Major General ASM Wase has been appointed as the GOC of 1 Division and Commander of the Joint Task Force Northwest.
– Major General CR Nnebeife now commands 2 Division and heads Sector 3 of the Joint Task Force.
In addition, several commandants of military training institutions, brigade commanders, and unit leaders have also been affected by the changes, although specific names were not listed in the statement.
The COAS, while addressing the appointments, urged the newly assigned officers to show renewed commitment to duty, professionalism, and accountability as they take up their new responsibilities.
He reminded them of the Nigerian Army’s ongoing efforts to defeat insurgency and other security threats across the country.
“This reshuffle is a deliberate step to enhance the Army’s capacity in tackling national security challenges. The newly appointed officers must take this responsibility seriously and deliver results that will reflect in improved security for Nigerians,” Lt. Col. Anele quoted the Army Chief as saying.
Since assuming office, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede has emphasized leadership discipline, operational readiness, and troop welfare. He has also continued to advocate for inter-agency cooperation, better use of intelligence, and investment in training to tackle evolving threats across Nigeria.
The Nigerian Army, alongside other security agencies, has been involved in various operations under different codes such as Operation Hadin Kai (North-East), Operation Safe Haven (North-Central), and Operation Whirl Stroke, targeting insurgents, kidnappers, and bandits.
In recent months, the military has also intensified counter-insurgency operations in Borno, Kaduna, Zamfara, and Katsina States, leading to the recovery of weapons and the neutralisation of several terrorist elements.
This shake-up comes at a time when Nigeria continues to face complex security challenges, including the lingering Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, farmer-herder clashes in the Middle Belt, and rising kidnapping cases across the country.
Military analysts say the timing of the redeployment suggests that the Army Chief is preparing for a more aggressive strategy in handling these crises as 2025 draws to a close.
Observers also believe that injecting new leadership into strategic command roles could improve morale among troops and address reported lapses in logistics, troop rotation, and discipline.
The Nigerian Army has undergone several rounds of restructuring in recent years as part of broader reforms to improve professionalism and operational effectiveness.
