By Nkechi Eze
The Nigerian Army has announced a major boost to its leadership cadre following the approval of strategic promotions by the Army Council on Thursday, 27 November 2025. A total of 28 Brigadier Generals were elevated to the prestigious rank of Major General, while 77 Colonels were promoted to Brigadier General, marking one of the most extensive advancement exercises in recent years and reinforcing the Army’s leadership depth amid ongoing national security challenges.
In an official signed statement, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, disclosed that those elevated to the rank of Major General include Brigadier General O. Adegbe of the Defence Intelligence Agency, Brigadier General S. M. Uba, the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General R. E. Hedima, the Acting Chief of Military Intelligence (Army), and Brigadier General R. T. Utsaha, the Deputy Director of Defence Operations. Others promoted are Brigadier General A. M. Umar, Commandant of the Warrant Officer Academy, Brigadier General S. Sulaiman, the 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.
Also benefiting from the advancement are 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 Army Headquarters Department of Logistics, Brigadier General S. A. Emmanuel of the Nigerian Army Signals, Brigadier General S. S. Tilawan, Acting Commander of Sector 3 Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI, Brigadier General M. O. Agi, Desk Officer at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund in the Nigerian Defence Academy, and Brigadier General I. M. Abbas, Commander 34 Brigade. The statement further noted that Brigadier General Z. A. Saidu was promoted posthumously.
Among the 77 senior officers promoted from Colonel to Brigadier General are Colonel Y. Ibrahim of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre Abuja, Colonel N. N. Gambo of the Army Headquarters Department of Civil Military Affairs, and Colonel A. Saidu of Headquarters Nigerian Army Finance Corps. Others elevated include Colonel A. Ali of Army Headquarters Garrison, Colonel I. Waziri of the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff, Colonel M. M. Sani of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji, Colonel A. A. Alkali of the Nigerian Army Dog Centre, Colonel A. O. Ndah of the Army Headquarters Department of Training, Colonel I. B. Sheriff of Headquarters 9 Brigade, Colonel K. R. Apata of the Army Headquarters Provost Group, Colonel M. K. Akpuogwu of Headquarters Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE, and Colonel P. U. Nnaji of the Nigerian Army Operations Monitoring Support Team. Also promoted are Colonel M. T. Nagudu of the Nigerian Army Armour School, Colonel K. O. Bukoye, Commander 401 Special Forces Brigade, Colonel O. Adole of Headquarters Nigerian Army Medical Corps, Colonel J. A. Ikagba of 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Colonel D. C. Ibeh of 8 Division Medical Services and Hospital, Colonel G. S. Chohwore of 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Colonel O. G. Okoye of the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, and Colonel Y. K. Audu of Headquarters Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI, among several others.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, Nigerian Army Medal, congratulated the newly promoted senior officers and their families, describing the elevation as both a privilege and a call to higher responsibility. He urged them to intensify their professional drive and demonstrate through their conduct that the confidence reposed in them is well deserved. Lieutenant General Shaibu charged the officers to embody exemplary leadership at all times, inspire their subordinates through discipline and integrity, and embrace bold, innovative and unconventional solutions capable of delivering swift and decisive responses to the nation’s evolving security threats.
Reaffirming the importance of loyalty to the nation, the COAS reminded the officers that their sacred oath of allegiance to defend the territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria must remain absolute and unwavering. He emphasised that their commitment to the Constitution is non-negotiable and must stand beyond reproach as they take on greater responsibilities within the Nigerian Army’s command structure.
