President Bola Tinubu has appointed General Olufemi Oluyede as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), replacing General Christopher Musa.
The appointment was announced on Friday through a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, in Abuja.
General Oluyede, a member of the 39th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), began his military career in 1987 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1992.
Born in 1968 in Ikere, Ekiti State, the new Defence Chief has held several key positions in the Nigerian Army and is widely regarded as one of the force’s most experienced operational commanders.
He was appointed Acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS) by President Tinubu on October 30, 2024, confirmed by the House of Representatives, and officially assumed office on December 9, 2024.
Before his elevation, Oluyede served as the 56th Commander of the Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army in Jaji, Kaduna State, a crucial command position that shaped his leadership reputation. His promotion to Lieutenant General coincided with his appointment as COAS, reflecting his seniority and distinguished record.
General Oluyede has played key roles in internal security and counterinsurgency operations, particularly in Nigeria’s Northeast and other conflict-prone regions.
His career has been defined by years of front-line experience, dedication to military professionalism, and commitment to restoring operational efficiency across commands.
Sources within the Defence Headquarters suggest that his tenure as Defence Chief will focus on improving inter-service coordination among the Army, Navy, and Air Force, strengthening intelligence-sharing mechanisms, and boosting troop morale and logistics support.