In Army Shake-up, Lagbaja Approves Appointment of New GOCs, Corps Commanders

The Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, yesterday approved a second round of appointments and redeployments of senior officers. 

A statement signed by Army Spokesman, Brig-Gen. Nwachukwu, said the move was in continuation of the effort to rejig the Nigerian Army (NA) towards ensuring  administrative and operational efficiency.

It said having assumed command, the 23rd Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, has  approved the appointment and redeployment of Major Generals, and Brigadier Generals amongst several other senior officers across NA formations and units in the country.

Those affected in the recent redeployment include some Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) of Defence and Army Headquarters, Corps Commanders, Commandants of NA Training Institutions, Brigade Commanders, Commanding officers and several others.

Notable among the new General Officers Commanding (GOCs) appointees are Major General VU Okoro from Department of  Army Operations to Headquarters 2 Division as the new GOC, Maj. Gen. HT Dada from Defence Intelligence Agency to Headquarters 82 Division as the GOC, Maj. Gen. MT Usman redeployed to  81 Division as GOC from HQ 2 Division and Maj. Gen. KA Isoni who will assume Command as the Commander Army Headquarters Garrison, while Maj. Gen. AE Abubakar is redeployed from Headquarters 7 Division / Sector 1 OPHK to Headquarters 3 Division NA as  GOC and Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN.

The newly appointed Corps Commanders are Major General GO Adesina, who has been redeployed from Defence Headquarters to Headquarters NA Signals Corps and appointed Corps Commander, Maj. Gen. OO Oluyede from Office of the COAS Directorate of Inspection and Compliance to Headquarters Infantry Corps as Corps Commander while Maj. Gen. HG Tafida has been redeployed from DICON to  Headquarters Nigerian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers as the new Corps Commander. 

The statement said Maj. Gen. EL Ugwuoke is appointed Corps Commander Nigerian Army Ordinance Corps from AHQ Department of Logistics and Brig Gen SI Musa as the  new Acting Director Legal Service while Brig. Gen. ND Shagaya is now the Commandant Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport.

Among the newly redeployed Defence and Army Headquarters Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) are Major General EV Onumajuru from  Department of Special Services and Programmes (Army) to Defence Headquarters and appointed Chief of Defence Operations, Maj. Gen. ES Buba from Defence Intelligence Agency to Defence Headquarters and appointed Director Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. OR Aiyenigba from Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police and appointed Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation. Maj. Gen. OJ Akpor has been appointed Chief of  Administration (Army). 

Others are Maj. Gen. HT Wesley from TRADOC to Army Headquarters as Chief of Special Services and Programmes (Army), Maj. Gen. Y Yahaya from Defence  Headquarters to Department of Personnel Management and appointed Chief of Personnel Management, while Maj. Gen. IM Jallo moves from Army Headquarters Department of Policy and Plans to Office of the COAS as Director Inspection and Compliance.

Other senior officers affected are Maj. Gen. EA  Anaryu from Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre to Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre and appointed  Deputy Commandant,  Brig. Gen. NJ Edet from Headquarters 9 Brigade to Headquarters 14 Brigade as the new commander, while Brig. Gen. JIB Manjang was redeployed from Army War College Nigeria to the Nigerian Army College of Logistic and Management and appointed Deputy Commandant among several others.

“It is imperative to note that redeployment in the Nigerian Army is routine, particularly with the recent retirement of some senior officers as a result of the appointment of the new Army leadership. 

“The redeployments take effect from 3 July 2023,” it said.