The Army Council has approved the promotion of senior officers of the Nigerian Army to the ranks of Major General and Brigadier General, marking another strategic step toward reinforcing the nation’s defence leadership.
The approval was granted on Thursday, 27th November 2025, following a rigorous promotion exercise.
In a statement by the acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, a total of 28 Brigadier Generals were elevated to the rank of Major General, while 77 Colonels were promoted to the rank of Brigadier General.
Among those promoted to Major General are Brigadier General O. Adegbe of the Defence Intelligence Agency; Brigadier General S. M. Uba, Director of Defence Information; Brigadier General R. E. Hedima, Acting Chief of Military Intelligence (Army); and Brigadier General R. T. Utsaha, Deputy Director of Defence Operations. Others include Brigadier General A. M. Umar, Commandant of the Warrant Officer Academy; Brigadier General S. Sulaiman, Deputy Military Secretary (Army); Brigadier General I. O. Bassey, Director of the Nigerian Army Operations Centre; and Brigadier General C. A. Ekeator of the Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Department.
The promotion also extended to Brigadier General S. Y. Yakasai, Acting Director of Procurement in the Office of the Chief of Army Staff; Brigadier General W. L. Nzidee of the Department of Army Logistics; Brigadier General S. A. Emmanuel of the Nigerian Army Signals; and Brigadier General S. S. Tilawan, Acting Commander of Sector 3, Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI. Other beneficiaries include Brigadier General M. O. Agi of the Nigerian Defence Academy; Brigadier General I. M. Abbas, Commander 34 Brigade; while Brigadier General Z. A. Saidu was promoted posthumously.
Among the officers promoted from Colonel to Brigadier General are Colonels Y. Ibrahim of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Abuja; N. N. Gambo of the Department of Civil-Military Affairs; and A. Saidu of the Nigerian Army Finance Corps. Others include Colonels A. Ali of Army Headquarters Garrison; I. Waziri of the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff; M. M. Sani of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji; A. A. Alkali of the Nigerian Army Dog Centre; A. O. Ndah of the Department of Army Training; and I. B. Sheriff of Headquarters 9 Brigade.
Also, Colonels K. R. Apata of the Army Headquarters Provost Group; M. K. Akpuogwu of Operation Whirl Stroke; P. U. Nnaji of the Nigerian Army Operations Monitoring Support Team; M. T. Nagudu of the Nigerian Army Armour School; K. O. Bukoye, Commander 401 Special Forces Brigade; O. Adole of the Army Medical Corps; J. A. Ikagba of 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital; D. C. Ibeh of the 8 Division Medical Services and Hospital; G. S. Chohwore of 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital; O. G. Okoye of the same hospital; and Y. K. Audu of Headquarters Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI, among several others were promoted.
While congratulating the newly promoted officers and their families, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, Nigerian Army Medal, urged them to intensify their professional efforts and justify the confidence reposed in them. He charged the officers to provide inspiring, value-driven leadership and justify the confidence reposed in them. He charged the officers to provide inspiring, value-driven leadership and to embrace bold, innovative and unconventional approaches to Nigeria’s security challenges.
The COAS reiterated that the officers must uphold their oath of allegiance and maintain absolute loyalty to the Constitution and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, stressing that their commitment to defending the nation’s territorial integrity must remain steadfast and uncompromising.
