THE new Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has approved the posting and appointment of some senior officers of the Nigerian Army to commands, instructional and staff institutions across formations and units in an effort to reposition the Nigerian Army for operational efficiency and functional administration.
The army chief directed all newly-appointed senior officers, as they assume their new appointments, 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.
According to a statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, those affected by the redeployment include some Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) of the Army Headquarters, 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 Maj-Gen A.B. Ibrahim, who was posted from Headquarters 3 Division to the Department of Policy and Plans and appointed Chief of Policy and Plans (Army); Maj-Gen. B.R. Sinjen, posted from Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery to the Department of Army Operations and appointed Chief of Operations(Army); Maj- Gen. O.R. Aiyenigba from Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police to Department of Army Standards and Evaluation and appointed Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation (Army); Maj-Gen. N.C. Ugbo from Nigerian Army Signals School to Department of Civil Military Affairs and appointed Chief of Civil Military Affairs and Maj-Gen. E. Akerejola from Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport to Army Headquarters Department of Logistics as the Chief of Logistics (Army).
The new General Officers Commanding (GOCs) are Maj-Gen. B.A. Alabi from Army War College Nigeria to Headquarters 1 Division as GOC; Maj-Gen. A.E. Abubakar from Headquarters 7 Division to 3 Division as GOC, 3 Division/Commander Operation Safe Haven; Maj-Gen. P.P. Mala, who was posted from Depot Nigerian Army to Headquarters 7 Division as GOC/Commander Sector 1 Joint Task Northeast Operation Hadin Kai, as well as Maj-Gen G.U. Chibuisi from HQ Multinational Joint Task Force in Ndjamena to Theatre Command Joint Task Force, Northeast Operation and appointed Theatre Commander, while Maj-Gen. I.S. Ali was redeployed from Theatre Command Joint Task Force NE OPHK to HQ MNJTF as the Force Commander and Maj-Gen E.A.P. Undiandeye redeployment from Martin Luther Agwai International Peace Keeping Centre to Defence Intelligence Agency as Chief of Defence Intelligence has been formalised.
Also affected Corps Commanders are Maj- Gen. O.O. Oluyede as the Commander Infantry Corps; Maj-Gen. M.G. Kangye from the Department of Civil Military Affairs to Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery and appointed Commander; Maj-Gen. A.A. Adeyinka from Nigerian Army College of Logistics and Management to Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport and appointed Commander; also affected in the redeployment are Maj-Gen. K.O. Aligbe who is appointed as Commander Training and Doctrine Command, Maj Gen JO Ochai, from Defence Headquarters to Nigerian Defence Academy( NDA) and appointed Commandant, Maj.Gen. I.B. Maina posted from Department of Policy and Plans to Army War College Nigeria and appointed Commandant.
Equally redeployed are Brig-Gen. T.B. Ugiagbe, who is appointed Acting Chief of Military Intelligence (Army), Brig-Gen O.G. Onubogu from Headquarters Infantry Corps Centre to Martin Luther Agwai International Peace Keeping Centre as Commandant, while Brig-Gen. N. Ashinze moves from Department of Civil Military Cooperation to Defence Intelligence Agency as Director Fusion.
The Nigerian Army has also formalised the redeployment of Col A.O. Onasanya from Army War College Nigeria to Headquarters Guards Brigade as Acting Commander.
