The Nigerian military has announced a significant shake-up in its leadership structure. In a move to boost morale and operational efficiency, the Nigerian army promotes 105 senior officers to new ranks. This development follows the approval of the Army Council on Thursday, November 27, 2025.
If you are looking for the latest updates on military elevations, here is everything you need to know about how the Nigerian Army Council promoted 105 senior officers to general ranks and the names of those promoted.
Breakdown of the Promotions
The announcement was made official on Friday by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Appolonia Anele. The promotion exercise elevates officers to the prestigious ranks of Major General and Brigadier General.
The breakdown of the 105 promoted officers is as follows:
- 28 Brigadier Generals were elevated to the rank of Major General.
- 77 Colonels were promoted to the rank of Brigadier General.
This strategic decision is aimed at positioning the Army for better service delivery in tackling the security challenges facing the nation.
Names of Those Promoted
Below is the list of some of the key officers who have been decorated with their new ranks.
Promoted to Major General
The list of officers elevated from Brigadier General to Major General includes senior figures commanding critical operations and intelligence units:
- Maj Gen O. Adegbe (Defence Intelligence Agency)
- Maj Gen S.M. Uba (Director of Defence Information)
- Maj Gen R.E. Hedima (Acting Chief of Military Intelligence, Army)
- Maj Gen R.T. Utsaha (Deputy Director, Defence Operations)
- Maj Gen A.M. Umar (Commandant, Warrant Officer Academy)
- Maj Gen S. Sulaiman (Deputy Military Secretary, Army)
- Maj Gen I.O. Bassey (Director, Nigerian Army Operations Centre)
- Maj Gen C.A. Ekeator (Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering)
- Maj Gen S.Y. Yakasai (Acting Director of Procurement, Office of the COAS)
- Maj Gen W.L. Nzidee (Army Headquarters Department of Logistics)
- Maj Gen S.A. Emmanuel (Nigerian Army Signals)
- Maj Gen S.S. Tilawan (Acting Commander, Sector 3 Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai)
- Maj Gen M.O. Agi (Desk Officer, TETFUND, Nigerian Defence Academy)
- Maj Gen I.M. Abbas (Commander, 34 Brigade)
- Maj Gen Z.A. Saidu (Promoted Posthumously)
Promoted to Brigadier General
The officers elevated from Colonel to Brigadier General include:
- Brig Gen Y. Ibrahim (Nigerian Army Resource Centre)
- Brig Gen N.N. Gambo (Department of Civil-Military Affairs)
- Brig Gen A. Saidu (Nigerian Army Finance Corps)
- Brig Gen A. Ali (Army Headquarters Garrison)
- Brig Gen I. Waziri (Office of the Chief of Defence Staff)
- Brig Gen M.M. Sani (Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji)
- Brig Gen A.A. Alkali (Nigerian Army Dog Centre)
- Brig Gen A.O. Ndah (Army Headquarters Department of Training)
- Brig Gen I.B. Sheriff (Headquarters 9 Brigade)
- Brig Gen K.R. Apata (Army Headquarters Provost Group)
- Brig Gen M.K. Akpuogwu (Operation Whirl Stroke)
- Brig Gen P.U. Nnaji (Nigerian Army Operations Monitoring Support Team)
- Brig Gen K.O. Bukoye (Commander, 401 Special Forces Brigade)
Charge to the Officers
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has congratulated the newly promoted officers. He urged them to justify the confidence reposed in them by redoubling their efforts and demonstrating absolute loyalty to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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As the Nigerian army promotes senior officers, expectations are high that this fresh leadership will bring renewed vigor to the fight against insurgency and other criminal activities across the country.
