Profiles of the New Service Chiefs Appointed by Nigerian President

Profile of the New Chief of Defence Staff CDS Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede and Other Service Chiefs 

 

Zig Diaries | Defence & Security 

Date: Friday, 24 October 2025  

Time: 18:00 WAT  

Location: 📍 Abuja, Nigeria  

THE NEW CDS 

The the new Service Chiefs appointed by the president 9f Nigeria are led by the new Chief of Defence Staff who held the position of the Cheif of Army Staff before the latest announcements by the state house. 

Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede the (born 1968) a Nigerian Army officer now the Chief of Defence Staff of Nigeria from 24 October 2025. 

He had served as the Chief of Army Staff from 30 September 2024 before being elevated to the role of CDS.

General Oluyede is a member of the 39th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy, who succeeded Late Lt. Gen Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja. 

His military career has spanned numerous command and staff roles across Nigeria and in various international deployments. Following his promotion to the rank of major general in 2020, he has held Command that included Platoon Commander and Adjutant at the 65 Battalion, Company Commander at the 177 Guards Battalion, Staff Officer with the Guards Brigade, Commandant of the Amphibious Training School, and Commander of the 27 Task Force Brigade in the North East, leading operations under Operation HADIN KAI.

He has also participated in international peacekeeping and conflict resolution missions, including the ECOMOG Mission in Liberia and Operation HARMONY IV (4) in Bakassi.

Appointment:

In 2024, Oluyede was appointed Acting Chief of Army Staff by President Bola Tinubu to temporarily fill the position during the indisposition of Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja. His appointment was later confirmed by the senate, and he officially took office on 9 December 2024.[6] Prior to this, Oluyede served as the 56th commander of the Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army in Jaji, Kaduna.[7]Oluyede was born in Ikere, Ekiti State in 1968, Oluyede began his military career in 1987 as a cadet in the Nigerian Defence Academy. He was officially commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1992 after completing the Nigerian Army's training regimen.[1]Corps Medal of Honour

Grand Service Star

Field Command Medal of Honour

Field Training Medal

Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award 

Membership in the National Institute

THE NEW CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF COAS 

The new Chief of Army Staff Major General Waidi Shaibu is a Nigerian Army officer who recently served as the Theatre Commander for Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) in the North East before he was succeeded by Major General Abubakar. 

Prior to this role, he was the Deputy Commandant/Director of Studies at the National Defence College and has held other key positions, including General Officer Commanding (GOC) the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army. He is of the Nigerian Army Armour Corps. 

Previous positions:

Deputy Commandant and Director of Studies at the National Defence College, Abuja. 

General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 7th Division and Commander Sector 1 of OPHK. 

Commander of 21 Special Armour Brigade Bama. 

Director of Training at the Army Headquarters Department of Training. 

Principal Staff Officer at Defense Headquarters. 

Experience: He has extensive experience in the fight against insurgency in the North East, including operations in the Sambisa Forest area. 

Leadership approach: He has been noted for emphasizing both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches in counterinsurgency operations, including de-radicalization and using trips to broaden the worldview of former extremists

NEW AIR CHIEF 

Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke was born on 20 February 1972 in Makurdi, Benue State and hails from Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State. 

Air Vice Marshal Aneke attended Army Children School New Cantonment ‘A’ NDA Kaduna from 1976 – 1982 where he obtained his first school leaving certificate. He proceeded to Government College Kaduna from 1982 – 1987 where he obtained his West African School Certificate.

Air Vice Marshal Aneke started his military career on 10 September 1988 when he was enlisted into the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of 40th Regular Course. Consequently, he was commissioned as a pilot officer into the Nigerian Air Force on 10 September 1993. 

He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree (Bsc) in Physics, Post Graduate Diploma in Management from the University of Calabar, Masters in International Affairs and Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Masters in Political Economy and Developmental Studies from the University of Abuja and a Masters in Strategic Studies from the Air War College United State Air Force Air University Montgomery Alabama.

 Air Vice Marshal Aneke has attended various military courses in the course of his career in the Nigerian Air FORCE including the certificate in Aeromechanical Engineering from the officers Engineering School Technical Training Group (now Air Force Institute of Technology). Ab-initia Flying Training from 301 Flying Training School and Basic Flying Training from 301 Flying Training School now 401 FTS. He attended the Prestigious Armed Forces Command and Staff College where he obtained Certificates for the Junior and Senior Staff Courses respectively. Air Vice Marshal Aneke attended the United States Air Force Air University Montgomery Alabama where he obtained his Masters in Strategic Studies in the US Air War College.

Air Vice Marshal Aneke numerous appointments in the Nigerian Air Force some of these appointments includes: Admin officer at Aircraft Overhaul Centre Aircraft Maintenance Depot Ikeja, Admin officer and Group Logistics Officer at 301 Flying Training School NAF Base Kaduna. Commanding Officer Base Services Wing Air Maritime Group Benin, Staff Officer United Nation Peace Keeping Mission on Congo (MONUC) Kishasha. Fleet Training Officer, Wing Chief Admin and Wing Chief Operations all at the Presidential Air Fleet Abuja, Group Operations Officer and later Commander 307 Executive Air Lift Group Abuja, Deputy Director Evaluation (Air) Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Command Evaluation Officer Air Training Command Kaduna, Command Operations Officer and Evaluation Officer Tactical Air Training Command Makurdi, Chief of Staff Air Training Command Kaduna, Command Operations Officer Tactical Air Command Makurdi, Director of Safety Headquarters Nigerian Air Force Abuja, Deputy Director Operations Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Director of Policy Headquarters Nigerian Air Force and he is currently the Deputy Commandant Nigerian Defence Academy (Africa’s Foremost Military University) Kaduna.

Air Vice Marshal Aneke is typerated and has flown the following: Air Beetle 18, Air Beetle 18 extended version, Dornier – 228, Citation – 500, Falcon 900, Gulfs tream V, Gulf Stream 550 and the Hawker – 4000. He has an Advance Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) with a total 4,359 flying hours. His medals and Awards include GSS DSS GSM FCM Psc USAFWC MSc MIAD MPEDS.

Air Vice Marshal Aneke is happily married to Mrs Ngozi Enderline Aneke and the marriage is blessed with three Boys, Chukwuebuka Kelvin Aneke, IfeanyiChukwu Brian Aneke and Uchechukwu Jason Aneke. Air Vice Marshal Aneke enjoys flying, music and movies

CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF CNS  

Rear Admiral Abbas, who succeeded Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, is a native of Tudun Maliki, Kano State.

He previously served as Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Central Naval Command and Director of Operations at Naval Headquarters. Abbas helped coordinate anti-crude oil theft operations and maritime patrols across the Niger Delta.

In June 2020, he commanded the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Victory, overseeing joint efforts against piracy and illegal bunkering.

Before he was appointed naval chief, he served as Chief of Naval Safety and Standards, following a reshuffle in June 2023. Abbas also served as a Senior Research Fellow at the Nigerian Army Heritage Centre, where he contributed to maritime strategy and policy studies.

The Current Chief of Defence Intelligence maintains his position.

🏷️ Tags: Tinubu, Service Chiefs, Nigerian Military, Defence Headquarters, State House, Security Reform  

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