Fresh shakeup in Army as Lagbaja redeploys officers

• Nigerian Army Preaches Peace, Unity At Special Jummat Prayer

Former spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Jimmy Akpor, has been appointed Chief of Defence Administration in a fresh shakeup in the army that is expected to take effect from July 3, 2023.

Army spokesman, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, who disclosed this late on Friday, stated that in continuation of the effort to rejig the Nigerian Army for administrative and operational efficiency, the 23rd Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has approved the appointment and redeployment of major generals, and brigadier generals across Nigerian Army formations and units in the country.

“Notable among the new General Officers Commanding (GOCs) appointees are Maj. Gen. 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 be the Commander, Army Headquarters Garrison.

Maj. Gen. AE Abubakar was 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 Maj. Gen. 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.

Maj. Gen. EL Ugwuoke was appointed Corps Commander Nigerian Army Ordinance Corps from AHQ Department of Logistics; Brig. Gen. SI Musa is 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 are Maj. Gen. EV Onumajuru from Department of Special Services and Programmes (Army) to Defence Headquarters; Maj. Gen. OJ Akpor, who has been appointed Chief of Administration (Army); 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.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army last Friday held special Jummat prayers across units and formations in the country, as part of activities marking Nigeria Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2023.

The well-attended Jummat prayers afforded Muslim faithful the opportunity to offer prayers for the unity and wellbeing of the Nigerian Army, the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the nation.

The Chief of Training (Army), Maj. Gen. Sani Mohammed, who represented the Chief of Army Staff, joined other worshipers during a prayer session held at the Guards Brigade Central Mosque, Mambilla Barracks, Abuja, where they prayed for peace and national unity, as well as divine guidance for the leadership of the Nigerian Army, the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the nation.

In his sermon, Assistant Director, Guards Brigade, Islamic Affairs, Captain Musa Salisu, urged Muslim faithful to continue to maintain peace and build trust, irrespective of their ethnic and religious differences.

According to the Army Spokesman, the Imam reminded Nigerians that the country’s unity in diversity was bestowed by God and must be jealously guarded through harmonious coexistence.

The cleric appealed to Nigerians to be mindful of their conduct and utterances, shun every act of hate and obey duly constituted authority.