President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday approved sweeping changes in the leadership of the Armed Forces, announcing a new set of Service Chiefs in a move aimed at strengthening the country’s security structure.
Under the new appointments, General Olufemi Oluyede was named the Chief of Defence Staff, succeeding General Christopher Musa.
In the shake-up, Major General Waidi Shaibu was appointed as the new Chief of Army Staff, while Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke became the Chief of Air Staff.
The naval command also witnessed a change, with Rear Admiral Idi Abbas assuming office as the Chief of Naval Staff.
Meanwhile, Major General Emmanuel Undiendeye retained his position as the Chief of Defence Intelligence
Meet the service chiefs:
1. General Olufemi Oluyede — Chief of Defence Staff
General Olufemi Oluyede steps into the nation’s top military post with a reputation for discipline, quiet confidence, and operational excellence.
The new CDS was born in 1968 in Ikere, Ekiti State, Nigeria.
A member of the 39th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), he previously served as Commander of the elite Infantry Corps in Jaji, Kaduna, and later as Chief of Army Staff following the passing of Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja.
In December 2024, the Senate confirmed Oluyede as the substantive Chief of Army Staff.
2. Major General Waidi Shaibu — Chief of Army Staff
From Nasarawa State, Major General Shaibu is widely respected for his frontline command against insurgency in the Northeast.
As reported by Zagazola in April 2025, he is the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, and led major operations that weakened Boko Haram and ISWAP networks, resulting in the surrender of hundreds of militants and their families.
He also served as General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Maiduguri, where his tenure was marked by significant progress in counterterrorism and rehabilitation efforts.
3. Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke — Chief of Air Staff
Born in Makurdi, Benue State, he hails from Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State. AVM Sunday Aneke is a decorated officer and pilot with more than 4,300 flying hours.
According to his profile on the Nigeria Airforce website, he is a member of the 40th Regular Course of the NDA. Aneke holds degrees from the University of Calabar, Ahmadu Bello University, University of Abuja, and the U.S. Air War College, where he earned a Master’s in Strategic Studies.
His long and distinguished service in the Nigerian Air Force includes leadership roles in logistics, flight operations, and safety management. Aneke has flown multiple aircraft — from the Dornier 228 to Gulfstream jets — and previously served as Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
4. Rear Admiral Idi Abbas — Chief of Naval Staff
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, from Kano State, brings decades of naval operational and administrative experience.
According to a 2023 report, he was formerly the Director of Operations at Naval Headquarters and later Chief of Naval Safety and Standards.
5. Major General Emmanuel Undiendeye — Chief of Defence Intelligence
Retaining his role as Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General Emmanuel Akomaye Parker Undiendeye from Bedia, Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State, continues to lead Nigeria’s defence intelligence architecture.
A career officer and former Commandant of the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre, Undiendeye is known for his expertise in security analysis, regional peacekeeping, and intelligence coordination.
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