Army appoints new GOCs, redeploys senior officers for ‘operational efficiency’

The Nigerian army has carried out a major redeployment of some of its general officers commanding (GOCs) and senior officers across its units and formations. 

Onyema Nwachukwu, army spokesperson, announced the development in a statement on Saturday.

Nwachukwu said the redeployment of the officers was an effort to “ensure administrative and operational efficiency in the army”.

He added that the redeployment of the officers takes effect from January 11.

Those also affected in the redeployment, which was approved by Faruk Yahaya, chief of army staff, include some principal staff officers of the army headquarters, corps commanders, commandants of training institutions, brigade commanders, and commanding officers.

Some of the senior officers appointed as GOCs are IS Ali, from headquarters 3 division in Plateau to north east Opeartion Hadin Kai; AB Ibrahim, from army headquarters to headquarters 3 division in Plateau; AS Chinade was redeployed from headquarters 2 division in Oyo to headquarters 82 division in Enugu and GM Mutkut from army headquarters 8 division in Sokoto.

“Those newly appointed corps commanders are Major-General CG Musa from theatre command to headquarters Infantry Corps Centre as the new Corps Commander, Major General MS Ahmed from Headquarters Theatre Command (NE) to Headquarters Nigerian Army Armoured Corps as Corps Commander, Major General BR Sinjen from Nigerian Army School of Artillery to Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery as the new Corps Commander, Major General PE Eromosele from National Defence College to Headquarters Nigerian Army Engineers, Major General AA Ayannuga From Army Headquarters Department of Army Transformation to Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command, Major General GS Abdullahi from Defence Space Administration to Headquarters Nigerian Army Signals,” the army said.

“Among the new defence and army headquarters principal staff officers are Major General SE Udounwa who is redeployed from Army Headquarters Department of Special Services and Programmes to Defence Headquaters as Chief of Defence Training and Operations, Major General SG Mohammed redeployed from Army Headquarters Department of Policy and Plans to the Department of Army Training as Chief of Training, Major General UT Musa from Headquarters 82 Division to the Department of Army Administration as Director Personnel Management, Major General Y Yahaya from Headquaters 31 Artillery Brigade to Department of Army Administration as the Director Manpower (Army) among several others.

“Brigadier General TI Gusau is also redeployed from Army Headquaters Department of Special Services to the Directorate of Defence Information as the new Director.

“The newly redeployed Brigade Commanders include Brigadier General AM Umar from the Office of the Chief of Army Staff to Headquarters Guards Brigade, Brigadier General S Aliyu from Headquarters 6 Division to Headquarters 63 Brigade, Brigadier General HD Bobbo from National Defence College to Headquarters 31 Brigade, Brigadier General MT Aminu from Army War College Nigeria to Headquarters 35 Brigade among several others.”