NEWS
NIGERIAN ARMY UNVEILS MAJOR LEADERSHIP SHAKE-UP AS ABIA-BORN BRIGADIER GENERAL, CHIMA A. EKEATOR FROM NDOKI IN UKWA EAST, RISES TO MAJOR GENERAL AMONG 105 NEWLY PROMOTED OFFICERS
The Nigerian Army has carried out a significant restructuring of its top hierarchy with the elevation of Abia-born Brigadier General Chima A. Ekeator and 27 other senior officers to the prestigious rank of Major General, alongside 77 Colonels promoted to Brigadier General. The sweeping promotions signal a strategic boost to the Army’s operational command structure amid ongoing national security challenges.
The announcement was made on Friday by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Appolonia Anele, through an official statement released on the Army’s verified X handle, confirming a broad wave of promotions across key formations and defence institutions.
Brigadier General Chima A. Ekeator, an accomplished officer from Abaki Ndoki in Ukwa-East Local Government Area of Abia State, emerged prominently among those elevated. A senior officer at the Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, his promotion marks another milestone for Abia in the nation’s military leadership landscape.
Other officers promoted to Major General include:
Brig Gen O. Adegbe, Defence Intelligence Agency
Brig Gen S.M. Uba, Director of Defence Information
Brig Gen R.E. Hedima, Acting Chief of Military Intelligence (Army)
Brig Gen R.T. Utsaha, Deputy Director of Defence Operations
Brig Gen A.M. Umar, Commandant, Warrant Officer Academy
Brig Gen S. Sulaiman, Deputy Military Secretary (Army)
Brig Gen I.O. Bassey, Director, Nigerian Army Operations Centre
Brig Gen S.Y. Yakasai, Acting Director of Procurement, Office of the Chief of Army Staff
In a solemn tribute, Brig Gen Z.A. Saidu was also elevated posthumously in recognition of his exceptional service to the nation.
The Army also announced the promotion of 77 Colonels to Brigadier General, spanning officers serving in the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji, Army Headquarters departments, Special Forces units, and key military medical institutions. The wide-ranging upgrades reflect ongoing efforts to strengthen leadership capacity across all operational levels.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, congratulated the newly promoted officers, urging them to justify the confidence vested in them through outstanding leadership, innovation, and steadfast loyalty to the nation’s Constitution. He underscored the need for renewed dedication to confronting evolving security threats and enhancing the Army’s ability to safeguard Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
With the sweeping promotions, the Nigerian Army is poised to reinforce its command strength and sharpen its operational effectiveness as the country navigates complex security realities.