President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced a sweeping reorganisation of Nigeria’s military leadership, appointing new Service Chiefs in a move aimed at revitalising the country’s defence architecture and enhancing national security coordination.
According to a statement issued by Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, the appointments take immediate effect.
Under the new arrangement, General Olufemi Oluyede replaces General Christopher Musa as the Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Waidi Shuaibu becomes the new Chief of Army Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke assumes duties as Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral I. Abbas takes over as the Chief of Naval Staff.
Major General Emmanuel Akomaye Parker Undiandeye retains his position as the Chief of Defence Intelligence.
President Tinubu expressed profound appreciation to the outgoing Service Chiefs for their dedication and patriotic service, urging the new appointees to “justify the confidence reposed in them by enhancing professionalism, vigilance, and comradeship across the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”
Olufemi Oluyede — Chief of Defence Staff
Born in 1968 in Ikere, Ekiti State, General Oluyede is a seasoned infantry officer with over 30 years of active military service. A member of the 39th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy, he was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1992.
Oluyede’s experience spans numerous operational commands, including his tenure as Commandant of the Amphibious Training School, Calabar, and Commander of the 27 Task Force Brigade in Borno State under Operation Hadin Kai.
He has participated in several international peacekeeping missions, including ECOMOG in Liberia and Operation Harmony IV in the Bakassi Peninsula. Before his elevation, he served as Commander of the Infantry Corps and later as acting Chief of Army Staff.
His decorations include the Grand Service Star and Field Command Medal, among others.
Waidi Shuaibu — Chief of Army Staff
Major General Waidi Shuaibu, a respected field commander, succeeds Oluyede as Chief of Army Staff. He was previously the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, leading counterterrorism efforts in the North-East.
Known for his balanced leadership, Shuaibu combined tactical operations with non-kinetic approaches to peacebuilding. His ₦2.5 million scholarship initiative for a University of Maiduguri student exemplified his focus on civil-military relations.
Sunday Kelvin Aneke — Chief of Air Staff
Born on February 20, 1972, in Makurdi, Benue State, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke hails from Udi, Enugu State. A member of the 40th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy, he was commissioned as a pilot officer in 1993.
Aneke holds multiple degrees, including advanced studies in strategic and international affairs from Ahmadu Bello University and the U.S. Air War College. He has served as Commander of the 307 Executive Airlift Group, Abuja, and Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.
With over 4,300 flying hours, Aneke is type-rated on several aircraft, including the Gulfstream V and Hawker 4000.
I. Abbas — Chief of Naval Staff
Rear Admiral I. Abbas, appointed Chief of Naval Staff, has held various strategic posts within the Navy, such as Chief Staff Officer, Central Naval Command, and Chief of Naval Safety and Standards. His appointment aligns with Tinubu’s focus on maritime security and naval modernization.
Emmanuel Akomaye Parker Undiandeye — Chief of Defence Intelligence
Major General Undiandeye, who retains his position, hails from Cross River State and has been instrumental in strengthening Nigeria’s intelligence framework. A former Commandant of the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre, Jaji, he has championed intelligence-led operations and inter-agency collaboration.
President Tinubu’s latest shake-up marks one of the most comprehensive military reforms since assuming office, signaling his administration’s resolve to address emerging security threats across Nigeria’s borders and within its territories.
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