Army redeploys 317 senior officers

THE Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Onyeabo Ihejirika, has approved the redeployment of 317 senior officers of the Nigerian Army.

The sweeping redeployment affected all the four General Officers Commanding (GOC) of the Nigerian Army, principal officers of Army and Defence Headquarters and Corps Commanders.

The new redeployment, according to the out-going Director of Army Public Relations, Maj.-Gen. Mobolaji Koleosho, is “to fill the vacuum and maintain effective command structure in army units, formations and the Defence Headquarters.”

Details of the redeployments released in Abuja on Monday show that the former Commander, Nigerian Army Armoured Corps and Centre, Maj.-Gen. Ebiobowei Awala, is the new GOC 3 Armoured Division; the new GOC 2 Division is Maj.-Gen. Ahmed Jibrin, the former Commander, Nigerian Army Corps of Engineers; Maj.-Gen. Ashimiyu Olaniyi is the new GOC 82 Division.

The new GOC 81 Division is Maj.-Gen. Obi Umahi, while the new Commander, Nigerian Army Headquarters Garrison is Maj.-Gen. Obidah Ethan. Former GOC 81 Division, Maj.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, is the Commander, Infantry Corps and Centre, Jaji. Former Chief of Training and Operations, Nigerian Army Headquarters, Maj.- Gen. Lawrence Ngubane, is the new Chief of Training and Operations, Defence Headquarters.

Also, former GOC 3 Division, Maj.-Gen. Jack Nwaogbo, is the new Chief of Training and Operations, Army Headquarters, and former GOC 2 Division, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Abubakar, is the new Chief of Army Administration, Army Headquarters.

The new redeployments also show that Maj.-Gen. Paul Isang is the new Chief of Army Standard and Evaluation (CASE). He succeeded Maj.-Gen. Usman Shehu Abdulkadir, who has been appointed the Force Commander of the Africa-led International Support Mission for Mali (AFISMA).

The new Commander, Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) is Maj.-Gen. Babagana Mungonu, while Maj.-Gen. Daniel Kitchener is the new Chief of Logistics, Army Headquarters, and Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Bassey the new Chief of Policy and Plans, Army Headquarters.

The new appointments include that of Maj.-Gen. Obinali Ariahu, now the Chief of Research and Development, Defence Headquarters; Maj.-Gen. John Zaruwa is the Co-ordinator, Peacekeeping Operations, Ministry of Defence, Maj.-Gen. Salihu Uba is now the Commandant, Nigerian Army Peacekeeping Centre, Jaji, the former Nigerian Defence Adviser, United Nations Headquarters, New York, Maj.-Gen. Garba Audu, is now Chief of Logistics, Defence Headquarters.

The new Director-General, Defence Industries Corporation (DICON) is Maj.-Gen. Ekwenugo Chioba, while Maj.-Gen. Abubakar Gana is the new Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Logistics (NACOL). Former Commandant of NACOL, Maj.-Gen. Adekunle Martins, is now Commander, Nigerian Army Ordinance Corps, while the new Commander, Nigerian Army Signals (NAS) is Maj.-Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin.

The Commander, Nigerian Army Supply and Transport Corps, is now Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Nienge while the Commander, Nigerian Army Armoured Corps (NAAC), is now Maj.-Gen. John Nwaoga.

Maj.-Gen. Bolaji Koleosho has been redeployed from his post as Nigerian Army spokesman to his new post as Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, while Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru succeeds him as Army spokesman. Maj.-Gen. Bitrus Kwaji, who left office for Koleosho, is now the Group Managing Director, Nigerian Army Welfare Limited and Guarantee (NAWLG).