Posted by Written by Kingsley Omonobi on
The Nigerian Army High Command has effected a minor shake up in its hierarchy with the appointment of three new Corps Commanders, a new Commandant for the Nigerian Defence Academy and a new Director of Defence Information.
The Nigerian Army High Command has effected a minor shake up in its hierarchy with the appointment of three new Corps Commanders, a new Commandant for the Nigerian Defence Academy and a new Director of Defence Information.
According to a signal approved by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Abdurahman Dambazau, Major General Mamuda Yerima, formerly the Commandant of the Nigerian Army Ordinance Corp, is now the Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
Major General Abubakar Atofarati, formerly the Commandant of the Nigerian Army Engineers Corps, is the new Chief of Operations at Army headquarters. General Atofarati is taking over from Major General Sani Saleh, a Course 15 intake who is currently on leave.
Also, Major General Alex Ogunedo, formerly the Commandant of the Corps of Signals, has been appointed the Commandant at the Training and Doctrine Command of the Nigerian Army, Niger State. He takes over from Major General Lawrence Jokotola.
Colonel Chris Jemitola, former Aide De Camp (ADC) to former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, is posted to Defence headquarters as the Director of Defence Information (DDI). He will take over from Brig-General MD Yusuf who is re-assigned to another office at the Defence headquarters.
Already Vanguard gathered that the former Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Maj-General Dzarma, former Chief of Policy and Plans at Army headquarters, Major General Ekwo, former TRADOC Commandant, Major General Lawrence Jokotola, have since gone on retirement voluntarily.
It was further gathered that contrary to insinuations that three Nigerian Generals currently serving in United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Darfur, UN Headquarters in New York and Liberia Armed Forces were not due to be retired by the Army authorities as their appointments exempted them from such decisions.
Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Martin Luther Agwai for instance, who is Force Commander of the UN/African Union Hybrid force in Darfur, was said to have been appoint by the United Nations for a period of two years and it is after the expiration of the tenure next year that he will resign.
Former Force Commander of the United Nations Peacekeeping force in Sierra Leone. Lt. General Cyril Obiakor who is the first African to be appointed Adviser on Peace Keeping Operations to UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon cannot also be retired because the appointment is for serving officers and his tenure will lapse next year after which he can resign.
On his part, Major General Abdurahman, the Chief of Staff, Liberian Armed Forces, cannot also be retired by the Army authorities now until his tenure expires by December this year because his appointment as Chief of Staff, after his predecessor, General Luka Yusuf was appointed Chief of Army Staff, is based on a bilateral agreement between Nigeria and the Liberian governments.