The Nigerian Army yesterday announced the promotion of 533 officers and granted approval to five Major Generals who applied to go on retirement after serving 35 years in accordance with the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service.

The details of those promoted to the various ranks shows that:

158 Captains were promoted to the rank of Major,
174 Majors were promoted to Lieutenant Colonel,
127 Lieutenant Colonels to Colonel,
62 Colonels to Brigadier General and
12 Brigadier Generals to Major General.

In a statement signed by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Emeka Onwuamaegbu, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Abdulraham Bello Dambazau, authorised the release of the promotion and retirement of some officers of the Nigerian Army.

He said the criteria used for the promotion and retirement included vacancies, merit, deployability, number of promotion attempts, age ceiling on the rank and personal application.
While congratulating the newly promoted officers, the Chief of Army Staff also recognized and commended the selfless and valuable service and contributions of the voluntarily retired senior officers. Already, arrangements are being made for a befitting pulling out ceremony of the Nigerian army for the retired senior officers.