Like every organisation, the Nigerian Army is an institution with various departments to help carry out some of its major tasks in the day to day running of its operations. In this post we’ll list all the departments that exist in the Nigerian Army, and also tell you major functions of each of the departments.
Quick tips about the Nigerian Army
Also referred to as NA, the Nigerian Army is one of the components of Nigerian Armed Forces. It is also the largest component of the Armed Forces because it’s responsible for land warfare operations as they are currently doing in the North-East part of Nigeria where terrorist group Boko Haram are threatening the peace of the area. Nigerian Army is governed by the Nigerian Army Council (NAC).
- Founded: 1960
- Motto: “Victory is from God alone”
- Headquarters: Abuja
- Current Chief of Army Staff: Lt Gen Farouk Yahaya (Since May 27, 2021)
Size: As at 2016, the Nigerian has human strength of 200,000. That must have increased now because of the needed manpower to face insurgency in some parts of the country.
Warfare Engagements: The NA was massively in front of Nigerian armed forces during the Nigerian Civil War from 1967 to 170; others include Sierra Leone Civil War; Northern Mali conflict; First Liberian civil war; Congo crisis; Militancy in the Niger Delta and other minor uprisings across the country which are beyond the control of Nigerian Police Force.
Having said that, let’s move to…
Departments in the Nigerian Army
At the time of compiling this report there are 8 departments in the Nigerian Army, they are:
- Department Of Army Administration
- Department Of Army Logistics
- Army Transformation And Innovation Centre
- Department Of Army Policy And Plans
- Directorate Of Civil-Military Affairs
- Directorate Of Army Public Relations
- Directorate Of Army Training And Operations
- Directorate Of Nigerian Army Welfare Limited/Guarantee
Department Of Army Administration
Also known as DOAA, this is one of the Nigerian Army departments that deal with the administration, welfare, discipline, employment, and development of all human resources in the army.
This department is further divided into two:
- Directorate of Manpower Planning (DMP)
- Directorate of Personnel Services (DPS ‘A’).
The head of this department is known as the Chief of Army Administration (COA ‘A’).
Department Of Army Logistics
The logistics department is one of the backbones of the Nigerian Army. Called DOAL, it is responsible for all logistics matters in the Nigerian Army. It controls the entire Nigerian Army budget. This department is headed by the Chief of Army Logistics (COLOG).
Army Transformation And Innovation Centre
Called ATIC, the Centre is saddled with the responsibility of developing strategies that will ensure that the NA responds adequately to the ever dynamic operational and technological environment. This department is headed by the Chief of Transformation and Innovation (Army) COTI (A).
Department Of Army Policy And Plans
This is also called DAPP, which is the hub on which all the activities of the NA rest. It is the backbone of the Nigerian Army. It is the “think tank” and the co-coordinator of all AHQ Principal Staff Branches. It is headed by the Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP)
Directorate Of Civil-Military Affairs
Also known as DCMA for short, this is one of the departments of the Nigerian Army which came into being in December 2010 by the former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen OA Ihejirika. It is meant to serve primarily as an intersection between the Nigerian Army and the Civil Populace. It has the responsibility of underscoring the fundamentals of Civil-Military Affairs as a Strategic National Institution.
Directorate Of Civil-Military Affairs is meant to make sure there is cordial working relationship between the Nigerian Army and the civilians
Directorate Of Army Public Relations
Also called DAPR, this is another department of the Nigerian Army saddled with the role of advising commanders on the proactive ways of shaping policies and operations to gain public acceptance and support.
It is the megaphone of the Nigerian Army just like the Public Relations department of any other organisation.
The role of the Directorate Of Army Public Relations is more felt during war or conflicts in conducting information management to keep the public abreast and also undertake activities to motivate troops for the attainment of overall NA’s mission. The department is headed by the Director of Army Public Relations.
Directorate Of Army Training And Operations
Also known as DATOPS for short, this department is responsible for the training, planning and directing of military operations by continuous assessment and evaluation of possible threat areas in the overall national defence. It is headed by the Chief of Training and Operations, Army (CTOP ‘A’).
Directorate Of Nigerian Army Welfare Limited/Guarantee
This is another major department of the Nigerian Army saddled with the responsibility of welfare of the members of the Nigerian Army. It is also tasked to provide strategic policy, direction, streamline, harmonize and coordinate the activities of hitherto independent subsidiaries.
The strategic mission of the Directorate Of Nigerian Army Welfare Limited/Guarantee is to turn “waste to wealth” by exploring opportunities within Nigerian environment to improve on the welfare of troops and profitability for the NA.
Other units under the Directorate Of Nigerian Army Welfare Limited/Guarantee are:
- Nigerian Army Post Exchange (NAPEX)
- Nigerian Army Properties Limited (NAPL)
- Nigerian Army Small Scale Drug Manufacturing Unit (NASDMU)
- Nigerian Army Welfare Insurance Scheme (NAWIS)
- Post Service Housing Development (PHD)
- Post-Service Homes Savings and Loans (PHL)
NAWL/G has had 5 Group Managing Directors since its establishment. The present GMD is Brigadier General Adeyemi Adetayo.
Wrapping Up:
The above departments in the Nigerian Army is meant to tell you that Nigerian Army is large and an institution on itself with its formations located in different parts of Nigeria. For those who want to build a career with the Nigerian Army, we’ve given you one of the cardinal things to know about the Nigerian Army.