In Nigeria, the Chief of Army Staff is the highest ranking military officer of the Army. The position is often occupied by the most senior commissioned officer appointed by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. The Chief of Army Staff reports to the Chief of Defence Staff, who also reports to the Defence Minister. The Statutory duty of the Officer is to formulate and execute policies towards the highest attainment of National Security and operational competence of the force.
Below is a chronological list of officers who have held the position of General Officer Commanding (GOC) or Chief of Army Staff (COAS) from 1956 to date.
| Officer | Title | Period Served |
| Maj Gen Kenneth G. Exham | 1956–1959 | |
| Maj Gen Foster | GOC | |
| Maj Gen John Alexander Mackenzie | GOC | 1963 |
| Maj Gen Sir Christopher Welby-Everard | GOC | 1963–1965 |
| Maj Gen Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi | GOC | 1965–1966 |
| Lt Col Yakubu Gowon FSS | COAS | January 1966 – July 1966 |
| Lt Col Joseph Akahan OFR FSS | COAS | May 1967 – May 1968 |
| Maj Gen Hassan Katsina rcds psc | COAS | May 1968 – January 1971 |
| Maj Gen David Ejoor | COAS | January 1971 – July 1975 |
| Lt Gen Theophilus Danjuma | COAS | July 1975 – October 1979 |
| Lt Gen Ipoola Alani Akinrinade CFR FSS | COAS | October 1979 – April 1980 |
| Lt Gen Gibson Jalo CFR FSS JSS | COAS | April 1980 – October 1981 |
| Lt Gen Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi CFR FSS | COAS | October 1981 – October 1983 |
| Maj Gen Ibrahim Babangida | COAS | January 1984 – August 1985 |
| Lt Gen Sani Abacha GCON, DSS mni | COAS | August 1985 – August 1990 |
| Lt Gen Salihu Ibrahim FSS FHWC | COAS | August 1990 – September 1993 |
| Lt Gen Aliyu Gusau Mohammed DSS rcds | COAS | September 1993 – November 1993 |
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| Officer | Title | Period Served |
| Maj Gen Chris Alli CRG DSS ndc psc(+) | COAS | November 1993 – August 1994 |
| Maj Gen Alwali Kazir DSS Usawc psc(+) | COA | August 1994 – March 1996 |
| Lt Gen Ishaya Bamaiyi DSS Usawc psc(+) | COAS | March 1996-May 1999 |
| Lt Gen Victor Malu DSS mni fwc psc | COAS | May 1999 – April 2001 |
| Lt Gen Alexander Ogomudia | COAS | April 2001 – June 2003 |
| Lt Gen Martin Luther Agwai | COAS | June 2003 June 2006 |
| Lt Gen Owoye Andrew Azazi | COAS | 1 June 2006 – May 2007 |
| Lt Gen Luka Yusuf CFR GSS GPP DSO psc(+) fwc Msc | COAS | June 2007 – August 2008 |
| Lt Gen Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau CFR GSS psc ndc fwc(+) PhD | COAS | August 2008 – September 2010 |
| Lt Gen Onyabor Azubuike Ihejirika CFR GSS psc(+) fwc fniqs | COAS | September 2010 – January 2014 |
| Lt Gen Kenneth Minimah GSS psc(+) fwc | COAS | January 2014 – July 2015 |
| Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai NAM GSS psc(+) ndc (BD) | COAS | July 2015 – |
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