Shake-up as Army Chief Reshuffles Top Brass, Appoints PSOs, GOCs, Others

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

In his first official move to reposition the Nigerian Army (NA), the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Abiodun Lagbaja, yesterday approved the reshuffling and redeployment of top army brass, as well as the appointment of Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) and General Officers Commanding (GOCs).
A statement issued by the Army Spokesman, Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu, said the shake-up was designed “to reposition the Nigerian Army (NA) for operational efficiency and functional administration.”  

The statement said the new army chief approved the posting and appointment of some senior officers of the Nigerian Army to command, instructional and staff appointments across the Nigerian Army formations and units.

Those affected in the recent redeployment include some Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) of the Army Headquarters (AHQ), General Officers Commanding (GOCs), Corps Commanders, Commandants of training institutions, Brigade Commanders, and Commanding Officers, among others.
Some of the senior officers appointed as PSOs of the AHQ include Major General AB Ibrahim who was posted from Headquarters 3 Division NA to the Department of Policy and Plans (DAPP) and appointed Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Major General BR Sinjen posted from Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery (NACA) to the Department of Army  Operations (DAOPs) and appointed Chief of Operations (Army) and Major General OR Aiyenigba from Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police to Department of Army Standards and Evaluation and appointed Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation (Army).

Others are Major General NC Ugbo from Nigerian Army Signals School to the Department of Civil Military Affairs and appointed Chief of Civil Military Affairs and Major General E Akerejola from the Headquarters, Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport to Army Headquarters Department of Logistics as the Chief of Logistics (Army).

Senior officers appointed as General Officers Commanding (GOCs) are: Major General BA Alabi from Army War College Nigeria to Headquarters 1 Division as GOC; Major General AE Abubakar from Headquarters 7 Division to 3 Division as GOC  3 Division/Commander Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) and Major General PP Mala, who was posted from Depot Nigerian Army to  Headquarters 7 Division as GOC/ Commander Sector 1 Joint Task North-east Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK).
Others are Major General GU Chibuisi from HQ Multinational Joint Task Force Ndjamena (MNJTF) to Theatre Command Joint Task Force North-east Operation (OPHK) and appointed Theatre Commander, while Major General IS Ali was redeployed from Theatre Command Joint Task Force North-east OPHK to HQ MNJTF as the Force Commander.

Also Major General EAP Undiandeye’s redeployment from Martin Luther Agwai International Peace Keeping Centre to Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) as Chief of Defence Intelligence has been formalised.
Senior officers appointed as Corps Commanders include: Major General OO Oluyede as the Commander, of the Infantry Corps, Major General Marcus G. Kangye from the Department of Civil Military Affairs (DCMA) to Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery and appointed Commander.
Others are Major General AA Adeyinka from the Nigerian Army College of Logistics and Management (NACOLM) to Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport and appointed Commander.

Other senior officers also affected by the redeployment are Major General KO Aligbe who is appointed as Commander Training and Doctrine Command; Major General JO Ochai, from Defence Headquarters to Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and appointed Commandant; Major General IB Maina posted from Department of Policy and Plans to Army War College Nigeria and appointed Commandant.

Equally redeployed are Brig Gen TB Ugiagbe who is appointed Acting Chief of Military Intelligence (Army); Brig Gen OG Onubogu from Headquarters Infantry Corps Centre to Martin Luther Agwai International Peace Keeping Centre as Commandant; while Brig Gen Nicholas Ashinze moves from Department of Civil Military Cooperation to Defence Intelligence Agency as Director Fusion.
The statement said the Nigerian Army has also formalised the redeployment of Col AO Onasanya from Army War College Nigeria to Headquarters Guards Brigade as Acting Commander.

“The Chief of Army Staff has directed all newly appointed senior officers to redouble their effort and commitment to duty in ensuring the sustenance of the ongoing onslaught against terrorism, insurgency and other threats to national security, as they assume their new appointments,” the statement added.