Massive redeployment hits Nigerian Army in a major shakeup

Massive transfer has hit the Nigerian Army as Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Yusuf Buratai approves the redeployment of 20 Major-Generals in a major shakeup.

This is coming on the heels of recent redeployment of General Officers Commanding (GOCs) and other senior officers by the Army chief.

Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sagir Musa, announced the redeployment on Monday in a statement in Abuja

The statement said the deployment was aimed at reinvigorate the system for greater professional effectiveness.

It reads: “Due to the recent promotion of some senior officers, it became imperative to deploy them to appropriate appointments to the new ranks. Consequently, the Nigerian Army has just released the postings and appointments of the affected officers.

“The posting, which was approved by Lt.-Gen. Buratai, is a routine exercise carried out to reinvigorate the system for greater professional effectiveness/efficiency.

“The highlight of the posting includes the appointment of Maj.-Gen. E. O. Ogunkale, from Command Army Record, Lokoja (Kogi State), to Defence Headquarters as Chief of Defence Standards and Evaluation; Maj.-Gen. A. O. Uthman, from Nigerian Army School of Signals, Apapa, Lagos, to Defence Headquarters as Director Defence Communications; Maj.-Gen. O. O. Soleye, from Defence Headquarters to Headquarters Command Army Record, Lokoja, as Commander.

“Maj.-Gen. Y. I. Shalangwa, the erstwhile Director, Legal Services ‘Army’, now redeployed to Defence Headquarters as Director Legal Services; Maj.-Gen. D. C. Onyemulu, from Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Oshodi, Lagos, becomes Director, Armed Forces Simulation Centre; while Maj.-Gen. H. I. Bature is redeployed from Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command, Minnam (Niger State) to Defence Headquarters and appointed Director Liaison.”

“Others include Maj.-Gen. I. M. Obot, to remain at Nigerian Army Resource Centre as participant in Senior Executive Management and Policy Course; Maj.-Gen. B. O. Sawyer to remain in Army Headquarters Department of Policy and Plans as Director Plans.

“Also, Maj.-Gen. L. A. Adegboye, the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, is to remain as GOC 82 Division; Maj.-Gen. M. A. Masanawa, from Army Central Ammunition Depot, to Defence Headquarters and appointed Director of Innovation and Combat Development.

“Similarly, Maj.-Gen. G. Oyefesobi, from Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), to Headquarters of the recently created Nigerian Army Special Forces Corps as Commander; Maj.-Gen. M. M. Bunza, the erstwhile Commandant, Nigerian Military School, Zaria (Kaduna State), is redeployed to Nigerian Army Education Corps as Corps Commander Education…”

“Maj.-Gen. D. H. Ali-Keffi, from Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji, to Defence Intelligence Agency and appointed Director of Administration; Maj.-Gen. G. O. Adesina, from Army Headquarters Department of Army Policy and Plans, to Nigerian Army Signals School, Apapa, Lagos, as Commandant; while Maj.-Gen. P. E. Eromosele, from National Defence College, Abuja, to Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering, Makurdi (Benue State), as Commandant.

“Others are: Maj.-Gen. K. O. Aligbe, from Defence Headquarters, Abuja, to Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji, and appointed Commandant; Maj.-Gen. A. B. Ibrahim to remain in Army Headquarters and appointed Director Training; Maj.-Gen. G. K. Nwosu to remain in Nigerian Army Special Forces School, Buniyadi as Commandant; Maj.-Gen. F. B. Fakrogha to remain in Nigerian Army Women Corps as Commander Women Corps; Maj.-Gen. S. Idris, from Defence Headquarters to Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership Peace Keeping Centre and appointed Commandant.

“Similarly, Brig-Gen. J. C. Ogbonna, from Headquarters 81 Division to Headquarters 82 Division appointed Division’s Training Officer; Brig.-Gen. B. H. Mohammed, from Headquarters Nigerian Army Education Corps to Nigerian Military School, Zaria, as Commandant; Brig.-Gen. G. O. Omorogbe, from Headquarters 4 Brigade, Benin (Edo State), to Headquarters Infantry Corps Centre, Jaji, as Chief of Staff.

“Brig.-Gen. A. J. Fagge, from Defence Space Agency to Ministry of Defence and appointed Principal, General Staff Officer to Honourable Minister of Defence; Brig.-Gen. N. I. Najaja, from 6 Military Intelligence Brigade, Port Harcourt (Rivers State), to Open Source Intelligence Command as Commander and Brig.-Gen. A. O. Quadri, from Headquarters 81 Division, Lagos, to Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command, Minna, as Director Training.

“Also, Brig.-Gen. F. G. Dimlong, from 105 Division’s Equipment Support (DES) to 101 DES and appointed Commander; Brig.-Gen. M. Danmadami, from Headquarters 3 Division, Jos (Plateau State), to Office of the Chief of Army Staff as Acting Director, Procurement; Brig.-Gen. O. J. Akpor, from 1 Division Garrison, Kaduna, to Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, appointed Director, Military Training; Brig.-Gen. B. U. Yahaiya, from Ministry of Defence to Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Abuja, and appointed Subject Expert, South East Asia; Brig.-Gen. I. M. Jallo, from Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, to 4 Brigade, Benin, as Commander; Brig.-Gen. H. E. Akpan, from Army War College, to Directorate of Army Recruitment, Resettlement and Reserve and appointed Commander; Brig.-Gen. O. Nwachukwu to remain in Defence Headquarters as Acting Director, Defence Information; Brig.-Gen. M. K. Gara, from Army Headquarters Department of Training and Operations, to 8 Division Garrison as Commander and Brig.-Gen. M. U. Wambai, from S.I. List (SEC 41) to Headquarters, Directorate of Legal Services, as Acting Director, Legal Services, among others.

“Meanwhile, Lt.-Gen, Buratai, whilst wishing all the officers well in their respective appointments, charges them to take their new responsibilities seriously and discharge all duties professionally with utmost loyalty to the service and the nation.”

All the appointments take immediate effect.