Army Names New General Officers for Command and Principal Staff Roles in Major Reshuffle

By Kingsley Omonobi

Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), has sanctioned new appointments for General Officers Commanding of the 6 Division in Port Harcourt and the 3 Division in Jos, and for the Commander of Army Headquarters Garrison.

Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, stated on Saturday that the “strategic reshuffling of senior officers across key operational, command, training and staff appointments within the Nigerian Army (NA) is part of ongoing efforts to enhance operational effectiveness, strengthen national security and consolidate the Army’s capacity to address emerging security challenges across the country.”

Major General WM Dangana has been named General Officer Commanding the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army and Commander of the Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace, succeeding Major General EF Oyinlola.

Major General EI Okoro will take over as General Officer Commanding the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army and Land Component Commander of the Joint Task Force South‑South Operation Delta Safe, replacing Major General EE Emeka.

Major General JR Lar has been appointed Commander of Army Headquarters Garrison, while Brigadier General OM Oyekola assumes the role of Acting Military Secretary (Army). Brigadier General I Waziri remains in the Office of the COAS as Chief of Staff.

In a further move to strengthen operational leadership and force readiness, Brigadier General IB Buhari has been appointed Commander of Headquarters 63 Brigade, and Brigadier General K Rabiu will command Headquarters 31 Artillery Brigade.

Major General SA Emmanuel has been named Commander of the Nigerian Army Space Command, underscoring the Army’s expanding focus on emerging domains of warfare and technology‑driven security operations.

Major General O Adegbe has also been appointed Director of Intelligence and Security at Defence Headquarters.

Within professional military education and institutional development, Major General KE Chigbu has been appointed Deputy Commandant of the National Defence College, while Major General SD Makolo will serve as Commandant of the Nigerian Army Armour School.

Major General SO Adejimi will become Commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport, and Major General FS Etim has been appointed Chief of Training at Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command Nigerian Army (TRADOC NA). Brigadier General U Ahmad takes over as Commandant of the Depot Nigerian Army in Zaria.

Other appointments include Major General KO Ukandu as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Post Housing Development Limited (PHDL) and Major General AI Allison as Managing Director of Defence Properties Limited.

The COAS has tasked the newly appointed senior officers with demonstrating exemplary leadership, professionalism, innovation and unwavering commitment to the Nigerian Army’s constitutional mandate of defending Nigeria’s sovereignty, protecting its territorial integrity and supporting civil authority in maintaining peace and security across the nation.

“The Nigerian Army remains resolute in its transformation drive and commitment to building a highly professional, combat‑ready and people‑oriented force capable of effectively addressing contemporary and future security challenges in pursuit of Nigeria’s national security objectives,” the statement said.