On Friday, President Bola Tinubu executed a “major shakeup in the hierarchy of Nigeria’s military architecture” by appointing new top military commanders.
The appointments were officially announced in a statement released by Sunday Dare, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication.
He noted that the changes were made “in furtherance of the efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria to strengthen the national security architecture.”
The key appointments include:
- Chief of Defence Staff (CDS): General Olufemi Oluyede was appointed to replace General Christopher Musa.
- Chief of Army Staff (COAS): Major-General W. Shaibu was named as the new chief.
- Chief of Air Staff (CAS): Air Vice Marshall S. K Aneke was appointed.
- Chief of Naval Staff (CNS): Rear Admiral I. Abbas was appointed as the new chief.
The statement also confirmed that the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major-General E.A.P Undiendeye, retained his position.
Here are the profiles of the newly appointed service chiefs.
General Olufemi Oluyede
Before his promotion to the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Oluyede had been serving as the Chief of Army Staff.
General Oluyede, who is “56-year-old,” is a distinguished military officer and a “member of the 39th Regular Course.” His commission as a second lieutenant was finalized in “1992, effective from 1987,” and he was promoted to Major-General in “September 2020.”
The General’s career highlights include serving as the “56th Commander of the elite Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army, based in Jaji, Kaduna.” He has also “held many commands since his commissioning as an officer,” including:
- Platoon Commander and adjutant at 65 Battalion
- Company Commander at 177 Guards Battalion
- Staff Officer Guards Brigade
- Commandant, Amphibious Training School
Furthermore, General Oluyede “participated in several operations,” such as the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) “Mission in Liberia,” “Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi,” and “Operation HADIN KAI in the North East theatre of operations,” where he “commanded 27 Task Force Brigade.”
For his “meritorious service in various fields of operations,” General Oluyede “has earned many honours,” which notably “include the Corps Medal of Honour, the Grand Service Star, Passing the Staff Course, and Membership in the National Institute.”
Major-General W. Shaibu
His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, who is the “President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” has “approved the appointment of Major General Waidi Shaibu as the 25th Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Nigerian Army.” General Shaibu takes over from Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede.
The newly appointed Army Chief is characterized as a “battle-hardened commander, strategic thinker, and decorated officer of repute.”
His appointment is said to mark a “defining phase in the ongoing transformation of the Nigerian Army—towards greater operational readiness, professionalism, and an unyielding commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Background and Education
- Born on “18 December 1971 in the Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State.”
- Admitted into the “prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) as a member of the 41 Regular Course in 1989.”
- Commissioned into the Nigerian Army Armoured Corps on “17 September 1994.”
- Holds a “Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the NDA, Kaduna.”
- Holds a “Postgraduate Certificate in Public Administration from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration.”
- Holds multiple advanced degrees, including a “Master’s in Public Administration (University of Calabar),” a “Master’s in Strategic Studies (University of Ibadan),” and a “Master’s in Security and Strategic Studies (National Defence University, Washington D.C., USA).”
Career and Operations
Major General Shaibu “has held several strategic appointments,” including:
- General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division and Commander Sector 1, “Operation HADIN KAI, Maiduguri”
- Brigade Commander, 21 Special Armoured Brigade, Bama
- Chief of Training, Army Headquarters
His operational experience “spans several key military engagements within and outside Nigeria,” which include: “Operations HARMONY, BOYONA, ZAMAN LAFIYA, LAFIYA DOLE, TURA TAKAIBANGO, HADIN KAI, DESERT SANITY, and LAKE SANITY.”
General Shaibu is married to Hajia Safiyyah Hassan, and the union is blessed with two children.
Air Vice Marshall S. K. Aneke
Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke was born on “20 February 1972 in Makurdi, Benue State,” to the family of Air Warrant Officer Sylvester and Mrs Ngozi Aneke. He “hails from the Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State.”
Military Career and Education
After receiving his first school leaving certificate and West African School Certificate, the new air chief “started his military career on 10 September 1988” when he was “enlisted into the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the 40th Regular Course.” He was later “commissioned as a pilot officer into the Nigerian Air Force on 10 September 1993.”
Air Vice Marshal Aneke’s academic qualifications include:
- A “Bachelor of Science Degree (BSc) in Physics.”
- A “Post Graduate Diploma in Management from the University of Calabar.”
- A “Masters in International Affairs and Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.”
- A “Masters in Political Economy and Developmental Studies from the University of Abuja.”
- A “Masters in Strategic Studies from the Air War College United State Air Force Air University Montgomery, Alabama.”
Key Appointments and Aircraft Flown
Aneke’s numerous appointments in the Nigerian Air Force include: Command Operations Officer, Tactical Air Command Makurdi; Director of Safety Headquarters Nigerian Air Force Abuja; Deputy Director Operations Headquarters Nigerian Air Force; and Director of Policy Headquarters Nigerian Air Force.
“Until his appointment, he was the Deputy Commandant of the NDA.”
Aneke is “type-rated” and “has flown the following aircraft:” Air Beetle 18, Air Beetle 18 extended version, Dornier – 228, Citation – 500, Falcon 900, Gulfstream V, Gulf Stream 550, and the Hawker – 4000.
He is married to Mrs Ngozi Enderline Aneke and blessed with three boys.
Rear Admiral I. Abbas
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, who was “born on September 20, 1969,” is originally from the “Nassarawa LGA of Kano State.”
Naval Career and Education
The new Naval Chief “enlisted into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) on September 12, 1987” and was later “commissioned as a Sub-Lieutenant on 10 September 1993” as a “member of NDA 40 Regular Course with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry.”
Rear Admiral Abbas is classified as an “Above Water Warfare (AWW) specialist officer” and “has attended several military courses at home and abroad,” including:
- The Sub-Lieutenant Technical Course at NNS QUORRA in 1994.
- The Junior and Senior Staff Courses at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji in “2001 and 2005 respectively.”
Key Appointments and Operations
The newly appointed CNS “has held several appointments in the Nigerian Navy.” His roles include:
- Maritime Guard Commander (MGC) of NIMASA in “2015.”
- Commander Task Group (CTG) of NN Operation Tsare-Teku in “2017.”
- Between “2018 and 2022,” he “steadily climbed the ladder of appointments in Central Naval Command” serving first as the Command Admin Officer (CAO) and then as the Chief Staff Officer (CSO). This culminated in his appointment as Flag Officer Commanding (FOC CNC) of Central Naval Command. During this time, he “also served as Commander NNS VICTORY, Calabar in 2020.”
- In “July 2023,” he was appointed Chief of Naval Safety and Standard (CNASS) at NHQ.
- In “February 2024,” he became the Chief of Defence Civil Military Relations (CDCMR) and Defence Headquarters (DHQ).
In “January 2025,” Rear Admiral Abbas was deployed to the Nigerian Army Heritage Centre as a Senior Research Fellow, which was “the appointment he held before his elevation to the post of 25th Chief of Naval Staff, Nigerian Navy.”
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas is a practicing Muslim who is married to Mrs Aisha Abbas, and the marriage is blessed with two boys.
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