President Bola Tinubu on Friday approved the appointment of new chiefs of staff to replace the already existing ones.
This was contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, on Friday in Abuja.
Here are things you need to know about the new service chiefs.
Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Defence Staff
He succeeds Christopher Musa and will now oversee the coordination of all military operations across the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Born in 1968 in Ikere, Ekiti State, Oluyede is a seasoned infantry officer with more than three decades of active military service.
He is an alumnus of the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, where he was admitted as part of the 39th Regular Course and commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1992.
His career saw him serve as platoon commander and adjutant at the 65 Battalion, and later as company commander at the 177 Guards Battalion.
Oluyede has held several operational and strategic appointments that have shaped his leadership profile.
He served as Commandant of the Amphibious Training School, Calabar, and later as Commander of the 27 Task Force Brigade in Borno State, under Operation Hadin Kai, the Nigerian military’s flagship counterinsurgency operation.
He also took part in international peacekeeping missions, including the ECOMOG operations in Liberia and Operation Harmony IV in the Bakassi Peninsula.
Before his elevation to Chief of Defence Staff, Oluyede served as the 56th Commander of the Infantry Corps, Jaji, Kaduna, and later as Chief of Army Staff, a role he assumed in an acting capacity in October 2024 before being confirmed by the Senate in December of the same year.
Over the years, Oluyede has received numerous military decorations, including the Grand Service Star, Field Command Medal, and the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award.
Waidi Shuaibu, Chief of Army Staff
Waidi Shuaibu, one of Nigeria’s most experienced field commanders, was appointed as the new Chief of Army Staff.
His elevation comes after a distinguished military career defined by frontline leadership, operational excellence, and a deep understanding of Nigeria’s complex security landscape.
Until his recent appointment, Shuaibu served as the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, the North-East Joint Task Force headquartered in Maiduguri. He assumed that role on January 30, 2024, succeeding Gold Chibuisi (Major General), and quickly established a reputation for pragmatic leadership and strong morale-building among troops engaged in counterinsurgency operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP.
Before taking charge of the North-East theatre, Shuaibu had served as General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 7 Division, Maimalari Cantonment, also in Maiduguri.
His progression through these roles highlights a career steeped in tactical field command, personnel management, and strategic coordination, qualities that have prepared him for his new assignment at the apex of the Nigerian Army.
During his time as Theatre Commander, Shuaibu oversaw intensified military operations.
Notably, under his command, the British Defence Staff in West Africa donated advanced counter-IED equipment to bolster the Army’s capacity to detect and neutralise explosives, which had long posed a deadly threat to troops and civilians in the region.
Known for his balanced leadership style, Shuaibu also pursued non-kinetic strategies to consolidate peace and strengthen civil-military relations.
One of his most symbolic gestures was a N2.5 million scholarship award to a student of the University of Maiduguri, a gesture aimed at fostering goodwill and demonstrating the Army’s commitment to the local communities in which it operates.
His appointment as Chief of Army Staff is seen as a strategic decision by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Sunday Kelvin Aneke — Chief of Air Staff
Born on February 20, 1972, in Makurdi, Benue State, Sunday Kelvin Aneke is the newly appointed Chief of Air Staff, CAS. He hails from Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State and is the son of Air Warrant Officer Sylvester and Mrs Ngozi Aneke.
Aneke’s military journey began on September 10, 1988, when he joined the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, as part of the 40th Regular Course. He was commissioned as a pilot officer on September 10, 1993, marking the start of a distinguished career in the Nigerian Air Force.
He holds multiple academic qualifications, including a B.Sc. in Physics, a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from the University of Calabar, a Master’s 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, Montgomery, Alabama.
Over his career, Aneke has served in diverse command and staff roles. These include Admin Officer at the Aircraft Overhaul Centre, Ikeja; Commander, 307 Executive Airlift Group, Abuja; Director of Safety, Nigerian Air Force Headquarters; and Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, prior to his appointment.
A seasoned pilot, he is type-rated on several aircraft, including the Dornier 228, Citation 500, Falcon 900, Gulfstream V, Gulfstream 550, and Hawker 4000, with more than 4,300 flying hours and an Advanced Transport Pilot Licence, ATPL. His medals and decorations include GSS, DSS, GSM, FCM, Psc, and USAFWC.
Aneke is married to Ngozi Enderline Aneke, and their union is blessed with three sons, Chukwuebuka Kelvin, Ifeanyichukwu Brian, and Uchechukwu Jason.
I. Abbas, Chief of Naval Staff
I. Abbas, a Rear Admiral, was appointed Chief of Naval Staff, CNS, on October 24, 2025, as part of President Bola Tinubu’s broad reorganisation of the Armed Forces.
Before his elevation, Abbas held several key operational and administrative positions within the Nigerian Navy, including Chief Staff Officer, Central Naval Command, and later, Chief of Naval Safety and Standards.
Emmanuel Akomaye Parker Undiandeye, Chief of Defence Intelligence
Emmanuel Akomaye Parker Undiandeye, a Major General from Bedia in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State, is the current Chief of Defence Intelligence, CDI, of Nigeria.
He was appointed to the position in June 2023 under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
A member of the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps, Undiandeye has held several strategic positions, including Commandant of the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre, Jaji, Kaduna State.
He was also part of the United Nations Troop Contributing Countries Working Group that produced the second edition of the UN Infantry Battalion Manual in 2020.
As CDI, he oversees the coordination of intelligence activities across the armed services, focusing on improving data sharing, surveillance, and inter-agency cooperation.
He has repeatedly emphasised intelligence-led operations as the foundation of Nigeria’s national security strategy.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a statement by Sunday Dare, his Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, announced a major shake-up in Nigeria’s military leadership as part of renewed efforts to strengthen the nation’s security architecture.
The President approved the appointment of new service chiefs to head the country’s defence formations.
