Lagbaja Reshuffles Army Top Brass, Makes New Appointments

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, has approved the reshuffling and posting of some senior officers of the Nigerian Army (NA).

This was as he also approved some new instructional appointments into commands across the Army formations and units.

The moves by General Lagbaja was part of an effort to reposition the Nigerian Army for operational efficiency and functional administration.

This is contained in a release by the Director, Army Public Relations, Onyema Nwachukwu, dated 24 June, 2023.

Affected in the redeployment were 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 Maj Gen AB Ibrahim, posted from Headquarters 3 Division NA to the Department of Policy and Plans (DAPP) and appointed Chief of Policy and Plans (Army);

Maj Gen BR Sinjen, posted from the Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery (NACA) to the Department of Army Operations (DAOPs) and appointed Chief of Operations (Army);

Maj Gen 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 Maj Gen NC Ugbo from Nigerian Army Signals School to Department of Civil Military Affairs and appointed Chief of Civil Military Affairs;

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).

Senior officers appointed as General Officers Commanding (GOCs) are Major General BA Alabi from Army War College Nigeria (AWCN) to Headquarters 1 Division as GOC;

Maj Gen AE Abubakar from Headquarters 7 Division to 3 Division as GOC 3 Division/ Commander Operation Safe Haven (OPSH);

Maj Gen PP Mala, who was posted from Depot Nigerian Army to Headquarters 7 Division as GOC/Commander Sector 1 Joint Task North East( NE) Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK).

Others are Maj Gen GU Chibuisi from HQ Multinational Joint Task Force Ndjamena (MNJTF) to Theatre Command Joint Task Force NE Operation (OPHK) and appointed Theatre Commander;

Maj Gen IS Ali was redeployed from Theatre Command Joint Task Force NE OPHK to HQ MNJTF as the Force Commander;

Maj Gen EAP Undiandeye whose 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 Maj Gen OO Oluyede as the Commander Infantry Corps;

Maj Gen MG Kangye from Department of Civil Miltary Affairs (DCMA) to Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery and appointed Commander.

Others are Maj Gen AA Adeyinka from 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 in the redeployment are Maj General KO Aligbe who is appointed as Commander Training and Doctrine Command;

Maj Gen JO Ochai, posted from Defence Headquarters to Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and appointed Commandant;

Maj Gen IB Maina was 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;

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 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 as they assume their new appointments.

General Lagbaja directed them to ensure the sustenance of the ongoing onslaught against terrorism, insurgency and other threats to national security.