ARMY COUNCIL PROMOTES 105 SENIOR OFFICERS TO STRENGTHEN NATIONAL DEFENCE LEADERSHIP
The Army Council has approved the promotion of 105 senior officers of the Nigerian Army to the next ranks of Major General and Brigadier General, reinforcing leadership capacity across key defence and security formations nationwide.
The approval, granted on Thursday, 27 November 2025, elevated 28 Brigadier Generals to the prestigious rank of Major General, while 77 Colonels were promoted to Brigadier General.
Among those promoted to Major General are several top defence strategists, 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.
Also elevated were 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 of the Nigerian Army Operations Centre; and Brig Gen C.A. Ekeator of the Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering.
Others include the Acting Director of Procurement in the Office of the COAS, Brig Gen S.Y. Yakasai; Brig Gen W.L. Nzidee of the Department of Army Logistics; 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, Nigerian Defence Academy; and Brig Gen I.M. Abbas, Commander 34 Brigade. Brig Gen Z.A. Saidu was promoted posthumously.
The newly promoted Brigadier Generals from the rank of Colonel include officers across operations, intelligence, logistics, medical corps, training institutions, and strategic formations. Among them are Colonels Y. Ibrahim of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre; N.N. Gambo of Civil-Military Affairs; A. Saidu of Finance Corps; A. Ali of Army Headquarters Garrison; and I. Waziri from the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff.
Others include Colonels M.M. Sani of AFCSC Jaji; A.A. Alkali of the Army Dog Centre; A.O. Ndah of Army Training; I.B. Sheriff of Headquarters 9 Brigade; K.R. Apata of the Provost Group; M.K. Akpuogwu of Operation Whirl Stroke; and P.U. Nnaji of the Operations Monitoring Support Team.
Several officers in education, armour, medical services, and field commands were also elevated, including Colonels M.T. Nagudu of the Armour School, K.O. Bukoye, Commander 401 Special Forces Brigade, O. Adole of the Medical Corps, J.A. Ikagba of 68 NARH, D.C. Ibeh of 8 Division Medical Services, G.S. Chohwore of 44 NARH, O.G. Okoye of the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, and Y.K. Audu of Operation HADIN KAI, among others.
Felicitating with the newly promoted officers, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, congratulated them and their families while charging them to justify the confidence reposed in them through heightened professionalism and exemplary leadership.
He urged the officers to inspire subordinates through personal conduct and embrace bold, innovative, and unconventional approaches to effectively tackle the nation’s evolving security challenges.
The COAS also reiterated the importance of absolute loyalty to the Constitution, reminding the officers of their sacred duty to defend Nigeria’s territorial integrity without compromise.
The announcement was issued by Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, on Friday, 28 November 2025.
