President Bola Tinubu on Friday approved a sweeping shake-up of Nigeria’s military leadership, appointing General Olufemi Oluyede as the new Chief of Defence Staff to replace General Christopher Musa.
Also appointed were Major-General W. Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke as Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral I. Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff. Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye retained his position as Chief of Defence Intelligence.
The appointments were announced in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, who said the move was part of the administration’s ongoing effort to strengthen the country’s security architecture.
Below is a portfolio of the newly appointed heads :
General Olufemi Oluyede – Chief of Defence Staff
Until his new appointment, General Oluyede served as Chief of Army Staff and previously commanded the elite Infantry Corps in Jaji, Kaduna.
A member of the 39th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy, the 56-year-old officer was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1992 and rose to the rank of Major-General in 2020.
Oluyede has held several key command positions, including Platoon Commander at 65 Battalion, Commandant of the Amphibious Training School, and Brigade Commander of 27 Task Force Brigade under Operation Hadin Kai in the Northeast.
He participated in major military operations, including the ECOMOG mission in Liberia, Operation Harmony IV in Bakassi, and anti-insurgency operations in the North East.
For his service, he has received numerous honours, including the Corps Medal of Honour, Grand Service Star, and Membership in the National Institute.
Major-General W. Shaibu – Chief of Army Staff
Major-General Waidi Shaibu, a battle-tested officer from Kogi State, becomes Nigeria’s 25th Chief of Army Staff.
Born on December 18, 1971, he was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1989 as part of the 41st Regular Course and commissioned into the Armoured Corps in 1994.
Shaibu holds multiple advanced degrees, including a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering (NDA), 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.).
He has commanded several key units, including the 21 Armoured Brigade in Bama and the 7 Division in Maiduguri, and played pivotal roles in Operations Hadin Kai, Lafiya Dole, and Desert Sanity.
Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke – Chief of Air Staff
Born on February 20, 1972, in Makurdi, Benue State, AVM Sunday Kelvin Aneke hails from Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State.
A member of the 40th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy, he was commissioned into the Nigerian Air Force in 1993.
Aneke holds several degrees, including a BSc in Physics, a Master’s in International Affairs and Diplomacy (ABU Zaria), a Master’s in Political Economy (University of Abuja), and a Master’s in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Air War College.
He has served as Command Operations Officer, Director of Safety, and Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy. A seasoned pilot, he has flown several aircraft, including the Dornier 228, Falcon 900, and Gulfstream V.
Rear Admiral I. Abbas – Chief of Naval Staff
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, born on September 20, 1969, in Kano State, joined the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1987 as part of the 40th Regular Course and was commissioned as a Sub-Lieutenant in 1993.
An Above Water Warfare specialist, Abbas has served in several operational and administrative roles, including Maritime Guard Commander at NIMASA, Commander of Operation Tsare-Teku, and Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command.
He was also Chief of Naval Safety and Standards and later Chief of Defence Civil-Military Relations at Defence Headquarters.
Rear Admiral Abbas, a devout Muslim, is married to Mrs. Aisha Abbas, and they are blessed with two children.
Major General E.A.P. Undiendeye– Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI)
Among the service chiefs who retained their positions is Major General E.A.P. Undiendeye from Cross River State, who continues to serve as Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI) — a role he has held since his appointment by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023.
Before his current role, Undiendeye served as the Commandant of the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre. As Chief of Defence Intelligence, he oversees and coordinates intelligence operations across all branches of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The new appointments mark a strategic realignment of Nigeria’s military leadership as the Tinubu administration seeks to bolster security and operational efficiency across the armed forces.
