President Announces New Service Chiefs, Reaffirms Commitment to Strengthening National Security

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of new Service Chiefs as part of efforts to restructure and strengthen Nigeria’s national security architecture.

In a statement issued on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, the appointments take immediate effect.

Under the new changes, Major-General W. Shaibu becomes the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke is the new Chief of Air Staff (CAS), and Rear Admiral I. Abbas has been named the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS).

The Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye, retains his position.

The newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Oluyede, takes over from General Christopher Musa, who exits the post alongside other outgoing Service Chiefs. General Oluyede previously served as Chief of Army Staff, a position he assumed last year following the death of General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.

“The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, expresses his most profound appreciation to the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and the other Service Chiefs for their patriotic service and dedicated leadership,” the statement read.

“The President charges the newly appointed Service Chiefs to justify the confidence reposed in them and to further enhance the professionalism, vigilance, and comradeship that define the Armed Forces of Nigeria,” it added.

The outgoing Service Chiefs — General Musa, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, and Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar — have been in office since June 2023, overseeing key operations against Boko Haram, ISWAP, and armed bandits across the north-east and north-west regions.

While their tenure recorded notable operational successes, persistent security challenges and renewed attacks across parts of the country have heightened calls for a strategic shift in leadership and approach.

The reshuffle signals the administration’s renewed determination to enhance security coordination, bolster counter-insurgency efforts, and restore public confidence in Nigeria’s defence institutions.