THE Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Onyeabo Azuibike Ihejirika, Monday presided over the decoration of 14 of the 37 Colonels promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General last year.
A breakdown of the 14 Brigadier-Generals shows that eight are serving in Army Headquarters (AHQ), three in Defence Headquarters (DHQ) and one each in Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), National Defence College (NDC) and the Intelligence Processing Centre (IPC).
On December 18, last year, the Nigerian Army Council approved the promotion of 22 Brigadier-Generals to the rank of Major General (a two-star General rank), 37 Colonels to the rank of Brigadier-Generals (one-star rank) and 91 Lieutenant Colonels to the rank of Colonel.
Among the newly decorated Brigadier-Generals were Dennis M. Onoyiveta (former Aide-de-Camp to late President Umar Yar' Adua), Augustine Chris Chukwudi Agundu (Nigerian Defence Attaché to Benin Republic), and Adekunle Oluwole Shodunke (Deputy Director, Engineering Support, Civil-Military Relations Department, AHQ).
Others were Bamidele Mathew Shafa (Director of Intelligence, IPC), Ahmed Mohammed Sabo (Deputy Director of Personnel Services, AHQ), John Malu (Managing Director of Army Housing Development), John Bamidele Olawoni (Deputy Director, Staff Duties, AHQ), Lanre Bello (Deputy Director of Policy, AHQ) and Ibrahim Attahiru of DHQ.
Speaking after the ceremony held at the Army Headquarters Command Mess, Asokoro, Abuja, Gen. Ihejirika announced that this year alone, the Army has promoted a total of 2,900 soldiers from the over 10,000 soldiers recommended for promotion.
However, he promised that more soldiers would be promoted as soon as their documents were verified and the processes completed. Ihejirika explained that promotion in the military was not just a reward but a demonstration of confidence reposed in the officers by the leadership that such officers promoted still have much more to offer.
"You have done well but you are being promoted because they think you have much more to offer the system and I believe you are going to put in your best, and we are looking forward to seeing your best," he said.
"Let me once again congratulate those just promoted and tell those who did not make it now that it is not the end of the road. As they continue to work hard, promotion will come soon or later."
