By Bavoriat Clara
The Minister of Defence, Retired General Christopher Musa, has charged newly promoted senior officers of the Nigerian Army to deliver tangible results in the fight against insecurity, stressing that Nigerians are closely watching the Armed Forces and expect improved security outcomes.
Speaking at the promotion and decoration ceremony of senior officers in Abuja, General Musa said time was of the essence in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges, adding that the country would be safest when all components of the defence and security architecture operate together with clarity of purpose. He emphasised that jointness, inter-service cooperation and effective intelligence sharing remain critical to national security, as no single service can succeed in isolation.
The Defence Minister said the promotions were a clear reward for merit, discipline, resilience and sacrifice, describing the newly elevated officers as among the finest leaders in the Armed Forces. He noted that their new ranks place them at the strategic level of command, where decisions directly influence operational effectiveness and the future direction of the Nigerian Army, particularly as the nation confronts terrorism, insurgency and other evolving security threats.
General Musa also conveyed the congratulations of President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to the newly promoted officers, assuring them of the President’s unwavering commitment to building a professional, well-resourced and combat-ready Armed Forces capable of responding decisively to emerging threats. He further commended the Armed Forces for their swift and professional responses to recent security challenges across the country.
In his address, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, described the ceremony as a recognition of years of hard work, sacrifice and exemplary service by the newly promoted Major Generals. He said their elevation comes at a time when Nigeria faces diverse and complex security threats, including terrorism, banditry and other asymmetric challenges, which require adaptive thinking, innovative operational approaches and decisive leadership.
Lieutenant General Shaibu reaffirmed that the Nigerian Army remains the cornerstone of national stability and constitutional order, stressing that its loyalty to the Constitution, the Commander-in-Chief and the people of Nigeria must never waver. He added that the promoted officers now occupy strategic leadership positions where their decisions would shape both tactical outcomes and national security direction. The Army Chief also emphasised Nigeria’s pivotal role in promoting peace and security within the West African sub-region.
Also speaking, the Chief of Administration, Nigerian Army Major General Isa Abdullahi, said the Army had successfully concluded all promotional activities for the 2025 promotion cycle in line with the directives of the Chief of Army Staff and in strict adherence to transparency, credibility and merit. He disclosed that the Army Council approved the promotion of twenty-eight (28) Brigadier Generals to the rank of Major General and seventy-seven (77) Colonels to the rank of Brigadier General.
He explained that the promotion boards assessed eligible officers based on character, leadership qualities, operational competence, integrity, strategic insight and loyalty to the core values of the Nigerian Army. He added that the Chief of Army Staff had authorised decentralised decoration exercises across formations to enable commands to celebrate newly promoted Brigadier Generals within their areas of responsibility.
A vote of thanks was delivered by Major General Francis Omata on behalf of the newly promoted officers, during which he expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving their elevation, as well as to the Defence Minister, the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Army Staff for their support and leadership. He pledged the officers’ continued loyalty, professionalism and commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and unity.
The ceremony was graced by several dignitaries, including former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the Minister of State for Finance, members of the National Assembly, Service Chiefs, the Inspector General of Police, former Service Chiefs, principal staff officers from Defence and Service Headquarters, Corps Commanders, Commandants of training institutions and the President of the Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association, among others.
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