On Friday, President Bola Tinubu approved the appointment of a new Chief of Staff to replace the existing Chief of Staff. Here's what you need to know about the new service chiefs.
Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Defense Staff
He replaces Christopher Moses 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 over three decades of active military service.
He is an alumnus of the Nigerian Defense Academy, 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 a Platoon Commander and Adjutant in the 65th Battalion and later as a Company Commander in the 177 Guards Battalion.
Oluyede has made a number of operational and strategic appointments that have shaped his leadership profile.
He served as the Commandant of the Amphibious Training School, Calabar, and later as the Commander of 27 Task Force Brigade in Borno State under the Nigerian Army's major counter-insurgency operation Operation Hadin Kai.
He also participated in international peacekeeping missions, including the ECOMOG operation in Liberia and Operation Harmony IV in the Bakassi Peninsula.
Before being promoted to the rank of Chief of Defense Staff, Oluyede served as the 56th Commander of the Infantry Corps, Jaji, Kaduna and later as the Chief of Army Staff, a role he held in an acting capacity in October 2024 before being confirmed by the Senate in December the same year.
Over the years, Oluyede has received numerous military decorations, including the Grand Service Star, the Field Command Medal, and the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award.
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Wadi Shuebu, Nigeria's new army chief
Wadi Shuaibu, one of Nigeria's most experienced field commanders, was appointed as the new Chief of Army Staff.
His promotion follows 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 Theater Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, North-East Joint Task Force headquartered in Maiduguri. He assumed the role on January 30, 2024, succeeding Gold Chibusi (Major General) and has established a reputation for practical leadership and strong morale-building among troops engaged in counter-terrorism operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP.
Before assuming charge of the North-East Theatre, Shuebu served as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 7 Division, Mamlari Cantonment in Maiduguri.
His progression through these roles highlights his career steeped in tactical area command, personnel management and strategic coordination, qualities that have prepared him for his new assignment at the helm of the Nigerian Army.
During his time as theater commander, Shuaibu oversaw intense military operations.
In particular, under his command, British Defense Staff in West Africa donated advanced counter-IED equipment to enhance the Army's ability to detect and defuse explosives, which had long posed a deadly threat to troops and civilians in the region.
Known for his balanced leadership style, Shuebu also adopted non-dynamic strategies to strengthen peace and civil-military relations.
One of his most symbolic gestures was the award of a scholarship of ₦2.5 million to a student of the University of Maiduguri, aimed at promoting 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 the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
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Sunday Kelvin Aneke – Chief of the Air Staff
Sunday Kelvin Aneke, born February 20, 1972 in Makurdi, Benue State, 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 10 September 1988, when he joined the Nigerian Defense Academy (NDA) as part of the 40th Regular Course. He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on September 10, 1993, beginning a distinguished career in the Nigerian Air Force.
He has B.Sc. There are many educational qualifications including. in Physics, a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from the University of Calabar, a Master in International Affairs and Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello University, a Master in Political Economy and Developmental Studies from the University of Abuja and a Master in Strategic Studies from the US Air War College, Montgomery, Alabama.
During his career, Aneke has served in a variety of command and staff roles. These include Admin Officer at Aircraft Overhaul Centre, Ikeja; Commander, 307 Executive Airlift Group, Abuja; Director of Security, Nigerian Air Force Headquarters; and Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Defense Academy, Kaduna before his appointment.
An experienced pilot, he is type-rated on several aircraft including the Dornier 228, Citation 500, Falcon 900, Gulfstream V, Gulfstream 550 and Hawker 4000, with over 4,300 flying hours and an Advanced Transport Pilot License (ATPL). His medals and decorations include the GSS, DSS, GSM, FCM, PSC, and USAFWC.
Aneke is married to Ngozi Enderline Aneke, and their union has produced three sons, Chukwuebuka Kelvin, Ifeanyichukwu Brian and Uchechukwu Jason.
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I. Abbas, Chief of Naval Staff
As part of President Bola Tinubu's comprehensive restructuring of the armed forces, I. Abbas, a Rear Admiral, was appointed Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) on October 24, 2025.
Prior to 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 Security and Standards.
Emmanuel Akomaye Parker Undiande, Chief of Defense Intelligence
Major General Emmanuel Akomye Parker Undiandeye, a Major General from Bediya in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State, is the current Chief of Defense Intelligence (CDI) of Nigeria.
He was appointed to the position in June 2023 under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
A member of the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps, Undiendye has served in several strategic positions, including Commandant of the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre, Jaji, Kaduna State.
He was also part of the working group of UN Force Contributing Countries that prepared 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 emphasized intelligence-led operations as the foundation of Nigeria's national security strategy.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, announced a major overhaul of Nigeria's military leadership as part of new efforts to strengthen the country's security architecture.
The President approved the appointment of new service chiefs to lead the country's defense structures.
