Army Elevates 105 Senior Officers in Major Leadership Shake-Up

The Nigerian Army has approved a sweeping round of promotions, elevating 28 Brigadier Generals to the rank of Major General and 77 Colonels to Brigadier General, marking one of its most significant leadership restructurings in years.

The announcement was made on Friday by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, via the Army’s official X handle.

Among those promoted to Major General are several key figures across critical defence formations, including Brig Gen O. Adegbe of the Defence Intelligence Agency; Brig Gen S. M. Uba, Director of Defence Information; Brig Gen R. E. Hedima, Acting Chief of Military Intelligence (Army); and Brig Gen R. T. Utsaha, Deputy Director of Defence Operations.

Others include Brig Gen A. M. Umar, Commandant of the Warrant Officer Academy; Brig Gen S. Sulaiman, Deputy Military Secretary (Army); Brig Gen I. O. Bassey, Director, Nigerian Army Operations Centre; and Brig Gen C. A. Ekeator of the Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering.

Also elevated to Major General are Brig Gen S. Y. Yakasai, Acting Director of Procurement in the Office of the Chief of Army Staff; Brig Gen W. L. Nzidee of the Army Logistics Department; Brig Gen S. A. Emmanuel of the Nigerian Army Signals; Brig Gen S. S. Tilawan, Acting Commander, Sector 3 Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI; Brig Gen M. O. Agi, Desk Officer, TETFUND at the Nigerian Defence Academy; and Brig Gen I. M. Abbas, Commander, 34 Brigade.

Brig Gen Z. A. Saidu was promoted posthumously in recognition of his service.

The 77 Colonels elevated to Brigadier General serve across strategic units, including the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji, Army Headquarters departments, Special Forces Brigades, and several military hospitals.

Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Waidi Shaibu, congratulated the newly promoted officers and their families, urging them to demonstrate renewed professionalism and validate the confidence placed in them. He stressed the importance of inspiring subordinates through exemplary conduct and adopting bold, innovative approaches to tackle emerging security challenges.

Shaibu also reiterated the officers’ constitutional responsibility, calling for absolute loyalty and renewed dedication to safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial integrity.

The promotions are expected to boost the Army’s senior command structure and enhance its operational readiness amid growing national security demands.