Shake up in Army as COAS appoints PSOs, field commanders, others

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, has approved the appointment of Principal Staff Officers (PSOs), Field Commanders and other key staff that will provide the much needed vigour in his command of the Nigerian Army (NA).

A statement by Director Army Public Relations Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu on Saturday, said the appointments were disclosed through the NA Posting released by the Department of Military Secretary.
The appointments which take effect immediately, he said were aimed to rejig for efficiency command and administration within the NA.
The statement reads in part: “The COAS approved the appointment of the Commandant Nigerian Army Armoured School, Maj.-Gen BO Sawyer as the new Director Defence Information while the Chief of Operations Army, Maj.-Gen. IM Yusuf becomes the Commandant Nigerian Defence Academy. Maj.-Gen. TA Gagariga will move from Army Headquarters Department of Policy and Plans to Nigerian Army Artillery Corps as Corps Commander Artillery and Maj.-Gen. VO Ezugwu of Training and Doctrine Command becomes the Commander Infantry Corps. Maj.-Gen. MA Yekini is the new Chief of Defence Training and Operations, Maj.-Gen. MS Yusuf will take over as Chief of Defence Standard and Evaluation, while the Chief of Civil – Military Affairs, Maj.-Gen AB Omozoje will take over as the Chief of Policy and Plans at the Army Headquarters.

“Equally, Maj Gen SO Olabanji becomes the Commander Training and Doctrine Command, Maj Gen OA Akintade is the new Chief of Army Logistics, Maj Gen OT Akinjobi takes over as Chief of Operations (Army), Maj Gen JA Ataguba becomes the Chief of Army Standard and Evaluation while Maj Gens KI Mukhtar and C Ofoche are the new Chief of Administration and Chief of Transformation and Innovation respectively. Maj Gen AB Ibrahim is appointed as Chief of Training (Army).

“Among the new field commanders are Maj Gen AK Ibrahim who takes over as the Force Commander Multi National Joint Task Force, N’Djamena and Maj Gen IS Ali who becomes the General Officer Commanding 3 Division will double as the Commander Special Task Force Operation Safe Haven.

“The COAS equally approved the appointment of Commanders, Commandants of NA Institutions, Directors and other key appointments at both Defence and Army levels.”