Kehinde Fajobi
The Nigerian Army has elevated 108 senior officers, promoting 35 Brigadier Generals to Major Generals and 73 Colonels to Brigadier Generals.
The announcement was made in a statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, on Friday.
According to the statement, the officers promoted to the rank of Major General include Brigadier General A. Garba, the Acting Provost Marshal of the Nigerian Army, and Brigadier General U.M. Alkali, the Deputy Chief of Administration at the Directorate of Veteran Affairs.
Others are Brigadier General A.G.L. Haruna, the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 7 Division and Commander Sector 1, North East Operation HADIN KAI, and Brigadier General I.A. Ajose, the Acting GOC of 8 Division and Commander Sector 2, North West Operation Fansan Yamma.
Also promoted were Brigadier General N.B. Ebulue, serving at the Headquarters of the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, Brigadier General L.G. Lepdung, Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, and Brigadier General O.A. Awolo, Director of Military Training at the Nigerian Defence Academy.
Brigadier General U.G. Ogeleka, Commander of the Nigerian Army Space Command, was elevated alongside Brigadier General O.A. Fadairo, Commander of 12 Brigade, and Brigadier General O.D. Williams, Commander of 22 Brigade.
Others include Brigadier General J.R. Lar, Commander of 32 Brigade, Brigadier General A.G. Mahmuda, Commandant of the Warrant Officer Academy, and Brigadier General V.D. Beryo, Commander of the Nigerian Army Special Forces School.
Additional promotions to Major General include Brigadier General A.O.D. Okoro, Director of the Army Headquarters Department of Special Services and Programmes, Brigadier General S.O. Adejimi, Director of Movement at the Army Headquarters Department of Army Logistics, and Brigadier General T.T. Sidick, Director of Finance at the Nigerian Defence Academy.
Brigadier General M.C.E. Ejike, Commander of Sector 2, Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI, was also promoted alongside Brigadier General M.F. Babayo, Commander of Sector 3, North East Joint Task Force Operation HADIN KAI, Brigadier General H. Yanet, Commander of 51 Signal Brigade, and Brigadier General M.K. Gara of the Army Headquarters Department of Training.
Those promoted to the rank of Brigadier General include Colonel S.M. Iliya, Commander of 43 Engineers Brigade, Colonel O. Igwe, Commander of 78 Supply and Transport, and Colonel N.E. Udofia of the Nigerian Army Electrical Mechanical Engineers.
Colonel U.R. Okoroji, Commander of 404 Engineers Brigade, and Colonel G.S. Oyinwola of the Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary were also elevated.
Other officers promoted to Brigadier General are Colonel S. Ahmadu from the Defence Intelligence Agency, Colonel C.I. Nwonyi, Commander of 81 Division Provost Group, and Colonel A.S. Aliyu, Commander of 1 Division Military Intelligence, among others.
Congratulating the officers, Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, urged them to adopt innovative strategies to tackle the nation’s security challenges.
He said, “You must lead by example and evolve ‘out of the box’ ideas to address the security issues plaguing our nation.”
The Army’s leadership emphasised the need for loyalty to the constitution and the importance of remaining committed to defending the country at all times.