Nigerian Army Reshuffles Top Command As COAS Approves Nationwide Postings

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved a major redeployment and appointment exercise involving 2,313 officers of the Nigerian Army across formations and units nationwide.

The decision was conveyed in a restricted signal issued by the Military Secretary (Army), Major General E. I. Okoro, dated 31 December 2025. The directive, which takes immediate effect, was made available to journalists in Abuja.

According to the signal, amendments and deletions affecting 98 officers reduced the total number of postings to 2,215 personnel. Among those affected are 37 Major Generals, whose redeployments include changes at the level of General Officers Commanding (GOCs) in key Army divisions.

Major General Farouk Mijinyawa, until now the GOC of the 81 Division, has been redeployed to the Army Headquarters, where he will serve in the Department of Army Policy and Plans as Deputy Chief of Policy and Plans. Similarly, Major General Ibikunle Ajose, former GOC of the 8 Division in Sokoto, has been appointed Deputy Chief of Operations at the Army Headquarters.

New appointments have also been made to fill vacant command positions. Major General B. P. Koughna has been named GOC of the 8 Division and Commander of Sector 2, Joint Task Force, North-West. Major General A. A. Babalola has been redeployed from the Defence Headquarters to take over as GOC of the 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Lagos.

The redeployment exercise further affected 187 Brigadier Generals, 189 Colonels, 235 Lieutenant Colonels, 856 Majors, 384 Captains, 318 Lieutenants and three Second Lieutenants.

All officers involved have been directed to report to their new duty stations on the dates specified in the signal, with failure to comply attracting appropriate sanctions.

Although the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, has yet to issue an official statement, a senior officer at the Army Headquarters confirmed the development, describing it as a routine exercise aimed at strengthening operational effectiveness within the Nigerian Army.