Military shake-up: More generals to go

The recent shake-up in Nigeria’s military is set to sweep out dozens of senior officers from the system.

Findings show that no fewer than 60 Generals are expected to retire.

This follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s appointment of new Service Chiefs.

The move, announced on Friday, saw General Christopher Musa removed as Chief of Defence Staff alongside other top commanders.

Lieutenant-General Olufemi Oluyede, who was until now the Chief of Army Staff, has been named the new Chief of Defence Staff.

While Major-General Waidi Shaibu was named the new Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke took charge as Chief of Air Staff.

Rear Admiral Idi Abbas becomes Chief of Naval Staff.

Major-General E.A.P Undiendeye retained his position as Chief of Defence Intelligence.

Military sources said the reshuffle will trigger a major round of retirements among officers senior to the new Service Chiefs.

“The newly appointed Service Chiefs will be decorated with their ranks any moment from now. As such, their seniors who are still in service will exit,” a source confirmed.

Officers from the Nigerian Defence Academy Regular Courses 38, 39 and a few from Course 40 are said to be affected.

The changes, sources added, are in line with military tradition to maintain discipline, hierarchy and command structure.

The Presidency said the shake-up was aimed at strengthening national security and improving coordination across the Armed Forces.

The new appointments came days after reports of an alleged coup plot circulated in the media.

Daily Trust could not confirm any link between the rumours and the changes.

Security watchers say the mass retirement will open the way for a new generation of commanders across the Armed Forces.

The belief, in some quarters, is that the change could inject fresh momentum into ongoing military operations and unsettle, briefly, the command structure as new officers take over.

A former spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier-General Sani Usman Kukasheka (rtd), said the move was not unusual.

“It is a regular practice in the military. Leadership rotation brings new energy to operations,” he said.

A statement signed by Sunday Dare said, the president’s aide, praised the outgoing officers for their “patriotic service and dedication”.

He said the president made changes in the hierarchy of the Service Chiefs in furtherance of the efforts to strengthen the national security architecture (Daily Trust)