President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday approved a sweeping reorganization of Nigeria’s military hierarchy, marking one of the most significant shakeups since his administration took office.
The president replaced General Christopher Musa with General Olufemi Oluyede as the new Chief of Defence Staff, while appointing new heads for the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Major-General W. Shaibu has been named Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal S. K. Aneke takes over as Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral I. Abbas assumes the role of Chief of Naval Staff. Meanwhile, Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye retained his position as Chief of Defence Intelligence.
The announcement was made through a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, who explained that the decision was part of the Federal Government’s broader effort to “strengthen the national security architecture.”
Below are the profiles of the newly appointed service chiefs.
General Olufemi Oluyede
Before his latest appointment as Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede served as Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff. A distinguished officer, Oluyede previously commanded the elite Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army in Jaji, Kaduna, as its 56th leader.
Born 56 years ago, Oluyede is a member of the 39th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA). He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1992, retroactive to 1987, and attained the rank of Major-General in September 2020.
Over the course of his career, Oluyede has held several key command and administrative roles, including Platoon Commander, Adjutant at 65 Battalion, Company Commander at 177 Guards Battalion, Staff Officer at Guards Brigade, and Commandant of the Amphibious Training School.
He has participated in various operations both within and outside Nigeria, including the ECOMOG Mission in Liberia, Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi, and Operation HADIN KAI in the North East, where he led the 27 Task Force Brigade.
His exemplary service has earned him numerous military honors, including the Corps Medal of Honour, the Grand Service Star, Passing the Staff Course recognition, and Membership in the National Institute.
Major-General W. Shaibu
Major-General Waidi Shaibu has been appointed as the 25th Chief of Army Staff, succeeding General Olufemi Oluyede. Widely regarded as a battle-tested commander and a strategic thinker, Shaibu’s appointment signals a renewed push for professionalism and operational excellence within the Nigerian Army.
Born on December 18, 1971, in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, Shaibu began his military journey at the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1989 as part of the 41 Regular Course and was commissioned into the Nigerian Army Armoured Corps on September 17, 1994.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the NDA, along with advanced academic qualifications including a Postgraduate Certificate in Public Administration from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Calabar, a Master’s in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan, and another in Security and Strategic Studies from the National Defence University, Washington D.C., USA.
Shaibu has served in numerous strategic roles, including General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Commander of Sector 1 Operation HADIN KAI in Maiduguri, Brigade Commander of the 21 Special Armoured Brigade in Bama, and Chief of Training at the Army Headquarters.
His operational experience spans several missions, including Operations HARMONY, BOYONA, ZAMAN LAFIYA, LAFIYA DOLE, TURA TAKAIBANGO, HADIN KAI, DESERT SANITY, and LAKE SANITY.
He is married to Hajia Safiyyah Hassan, and their marriage is blessed with two children.
Air Vice Marshal S. K. Aneke
Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, the new Chief of Air Staff, was born on February 20, 1972, in Makurdi, Benue State, to the family of Air Warrant Officer Sylvester and Mrs. Ngozi Aneke. He hails from Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State.
After completing his early education, Aneke joined the Nigerian Defence Academy on September 10, 1988, as a member of the 40th Regular Course and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer into the Nigerian Air Force on September 10, 1993.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Physics, a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from the University of Calabar, a Master’s in International Affairs and Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, a Master’s in Political Economy and Developmental Studies from the University of Abuja, and a Master’s in Strategic Studies from the Air War College of the U.S. Air Force Air University, Montgomery, Alabama.
Aneke has held several vital positions in the Nigerian Air Force, including Command Operations Officer at Tactical Air Command Makurdi, Director of Safety at the Air Force Headquarters Abuja, Deputy Director of Operations, and Director of Policy. Before his current appointment, he served as the Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
He is an accomplished pilot, having flown multiple aircraft types, including the Air Beetle 18, Dornier 228, Citation 500, Falcon 900, Gulfstream V and 550, and the Hawker 4000. Aneke is married to Mrs. Ngozi Enderline Aneke, and they are blessed with three sons.
Rear Admiral I. Abbas
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, newly appointed Chief of Naval Staff, was born on September 20, 1969, in Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State. He joined the Nigerian Defence Academy on September 12, 1987, and was commissioned as a Sub-Lieutenant on September 10, 1993, as part of the 40th Regular Course. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry.
An Above Water Warfare (AWW) specialist, Rear Admiral Abbas has completed several military courses at home and abroad, including the Sub-Lieutenant Technical Course at NNS QUORRA (1994) and both Junior and Senior Staff Courses at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji.
Over the years, Abbas has held numerous strategic appointments in the Nigerian Navy, including Maritime Guard Commander of NIMASA (2015), Commander Task Group of Operation Tsare-Teku (2017), Command Admin Officer and Chief Staff Officer of the Central Naval Command, and later Flag Officer Commanding the same command. He also served as Commander NNS Victory in Calabar (2020).
In 2023, he was appointed Chief of Naval Safety and Standards, and in 2024, Chief of Defence Civil-Military Relations. Before his elevation, he was a Senior Research Fellow at the Nigerian Army Heritage Centre.
A devout Muslim, Rear Admiral Abbas is married to Mrs. Aisha Abbas, and the couple has two sons.
What You Should Know
President Tinubu’s latest military appointments mark a major strategic shift aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s security framework amid persistent national and regional threats.
The newly appointed service chiefs bring decades of operational experience and advanced military education, signaling the administration’s commitment to a more adaptive, efficient, and intelligence-driven defence leadership.
