By George Ozalla
The Army Council has approved a major round of strategic promotions involving senior officers of the Nigerian Army, a move aimed at strengthening national defence leadership and enhancing operational capacity across key formations and units.
According to a press statement signed by Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director Army Public Relations, the Council on Thursday, 27 November 2025 elevated 28 Brigadier Generals to the rank of Major General and approved the promotion of 77 Colonels to the rank of Brigadier General.
Those promoted to Major General include Brigadier General O Adegbe of the Defence Intelligence Agency; Brigadier General SM Uba, Director Defence Information; Brigadier General RE Hedima, Acting Chief of Military Intelligence (Army); and Brigadier General RT Utsaha, Deputy Director Defence Operations. Others are Brigadier General AM Umar, Commandant Warrant Officer Academy; Brigadier General S Sulaiman, Deputy Military Secretary (Army); Brigadier General IO Bassey, Director Nigerian Army Operations Centre; and Brigadier General CA Ekeator of the Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering.
Also elevated are Brigadier General SY Yakasai, Acting Director Procurement in the Office of the Chief of Army Staff; Brigadier General WL Nzidee of Army Headquarters Department of Army Logistics; Brigadier General SA Emmanuel of the Nigerian Army Signals; Brigadier General SS Tilawan, Acting Commander Sector 3 Joint Task Force North East Operation Hadin Kai; Brigadier General MO Agi, Desk Officer TETFUND at the Nigerian Defence Academy; and Brigadier General IM Abbas, Commander 34 Brigade. Brigadier General ZA Saidu was promoted posthumously.
Officers promoted from Colonel to Brigadier General include Colonels Y Ibrahim of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre Abuja; NN Gambo of the Army Headquarters Department of Civil Military Affairs; and A Saidu of Headquarters Nigerian Army Finance Corps. Others are Colonels A Ali of Army Headquarters Garrison; I Waziri of the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff; MM Sani of Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji; AA Alkali of the Nigerian Army Dog Centre; AO Ndah of the Army Headquarters Department of Army Training; IB Sheriff of Headquarters 9 Brigade; KR Apata of the Army Headquarters Provost Group; MK Akpuogwu of Headquarters Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke; PU Nnaji of the Nigerian Army Operations Monitoring Support Team; MT Nagudu of the Nigerian Army Armour School; KO Bukoye, Commander 401 Special Forces Brigade; O Adole of the Nigerian Army Medical Corps; JA Ikagba of 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital; DC Ibeh of 8 Division Medical Services and Hospital; GS Chohwore of 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital; OG Okoye also of the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital; and YK Audu serving with the Headquarters Joint Task Force North East Operation Hadin Kai among others.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, Nigerian Army Medal, congratulated the newly promoted officers and urged them to justify the confidence reposed in them. He encouraged them to deepen their professional commitment, exhibit exemplary leadership, and inspire their subordinates through personal conduct while developing innovative solutions capable of delivering swift responses to emerging national security challenges.
He further reminded the officers of their obligation to uphold their oath to defend the territorial integrity of Nigeria, stressing that their loyalty to the Constitution must remain firm and unquestionable.
