On Friday, President Bola Tinubu sanctioned the appointment of fresh service chiefs, replacing the current military leadership.
This development was confirmed in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, in Abuja.
Key insights about the newly appointed service chiefs:
Olufemi Oluyede – Chief of Defence Staff
Olufemi Oluyede takes over from Christopher Musa as the Chief of Defence Staff, tasked with overseeing the integrated operations of the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Born in 1968 in Ikere, Ekiti State, Oluyede is a veteran infantry officer with over 30 years of distinguished military service.
He graduated from the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) as part of the 39th Regular Course and was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1992.
Throughout his career, Oluyede has held pivotal roles such as platoon commander and adjutant at the 65 Battalion, followed by company commander at the 177 Guards Battalion.
His leadership experience includes commanding the Amphibious Training School in Calabar and leading the 27 Task Force Brigade in Borno State during Operation Hadin Kai, Nigeria’s premier counterinsurgency campaign.
Oluyede also contributed to international peacekeeping efforts, participating in ECOMOG missions in Liberia and Operation Harmony IV in the Bakassi Peninsula.
Prior to his current appointment, he served as the 56th Commander of the Infantry Corps in Jaji, Kaduna, and briefly acted as Chief of Army Staff from October 2024 before Senate confirmation in December.
His service has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Grand Service Star, Field Command Medal, and the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award.
Waidi Shuaibu – Chief of Army Staff
Waidi Shuaibu, renowned for his extensive frontline command experience, has been appointed as the new Chief of Army Staff.
His career is marked by exemplary leadership in complex security environments and operational success.
Before this appointment, Shuaibu was the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, the North-East Joint Task Force based in Maiduguri, a position he assumed on January 30, 2024, succeeding Major General Gold Chibuisi.
In this role, he earned acclaim for his pragmatic approach and efforts to boost troop morale amid ongoing counterterrorism operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP.
Previously, Shuaibu served as General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 7 Division at Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri.
His progression through these critical roles underscores his expertise in tactical command, personnel leadership, and strategic planning, equipping him well for his new leadership role.
Under his command, military operations intensified, and the British Defence Staff in West Africa provided advanced counter-IED technology to enhance the Army’s ability to detect and disarm explosives threatening both soldiers and civilians.
Shuaibu is also noted for his balanced leadership, incorporating community engagement initiatives such as awarding a N2.5 million scholarship to a University of Maiduguri student, symbolizing the Army’s commitment to fostering positive civil-military relations.
His appointment reflects a strategic move by President Tinubu’s administration to strengthen the Nigerian Army’s leadership.
Sunday Kelvin Aneke – Chief of Air Staff
Sunday Kelvin Aneke, born on February 20, 1972, in Makurdi, Benue State, is the newly appointed Chief of Air Staff. He originates from Udi Local Government Area in Enugu State and is the son of Air Warrant Officer Sylvester and Mrs. Ngozi Aneke.
Aneke’s military career commenced on September 10, 1988, when he enrolled at the Nigerian Defence Academy as part of the 40th Regular Course. He was commissioned as a pilot officer on September 10, 1993.
He boasts an impressive academic portfolio, including a B.Sc. in Physics, a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from the University of Calabar, a Master’s degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello University, a Master’s in Political Economy and Developmental Studies from the University of Abuja, and a Master’s in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Air War College in Montgomery, Alabama.
Throughout his service, Aneke has held various command and staff positions such as Admin Officer at the Aircraft Overhaul Centre in Ikeja, Commander of the 307 Executive Airlift Group in Abuja, Director of Safety at Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, and Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna.
A highly skilled pilot, he is certified on multiple aircraft types including the Dornier 228, Citation 500, Falcon 900, Gulfstream V, Gulfstream 550, and Hawker 4000, accumulating over 4,300 flying hours and holding an Advanced Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL). His decorations include the GSS, DSS, GSM, FCM, Psc, and USAFWC medals.
Aneke is married to Ngozi Enderline Aneke, and they have three sons: Chukwuebuka Kelvin, Ifeanyichukwu Brian, and Uchechukwu Jason.
I. Abbas – Chief of Naval Staff
Rear Admiral I. Abbas was appointed Chief of Naval Staff on October 24, 2025, as part of President Tinubu’s comprehensive restructuring of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Before this promotion, Abbas held significant operational and administrative roles, including Chief Staff Officer at the Central Naval Command and Chief of Naval Safety and Standards.
Emmanuel Akomaye Parker Undiandeye – Chief of Defence Intelligence
Major General Emmanuel Akomaye Parker Undiandeye, hailing from Bedia in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State, currently serves as Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Intelligence.
He was appointed to this role in June 2023 under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
As a member of the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps, Undiandeye has held strategic positions such as Commandant of the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre in Jaji, Kaduna State.
He also contributed to the United Nations Troop Contributing Countries Working Group, which developed the second edition of the UN Infantry Battalion Manual in 2020.
In his capacity as Chief of Defence Intelligence, he coordinates intelligence operations across the military branches, emphasizing enhanced data sharing, surveillance, and inter-agency collaboration.
Undiandeye consistently advocates for intelligence-driven operations as the cornerstone of Nigeria’s national security framework.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s announcement, conveyed through Sunday Dare, signals a significant overhaul in Nigeria’s military leadership aimed at reinforcing the country’s security infrastructure.
The President’s endorsement of these new service chiefs marks a pivotal step in revitalizing the nation’s defense capabilities.