By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has ordered a major shake-up in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), affecting about 41 top-ranking officers.
The exercise, disclosed on Sunday, takes effect from November 2026. All affected officers are to assume their new appointments and complete handover and takeover formalities not later than 13 November 2026.
According to the CAS, the reshuffling is a strategic realignment of senior leadership through fresh postings and appointments designed to strengthen command effectiveness, enhance institutional capacity and sustain operational readiness in support of national security objectives.
The appointments cut across Service Headquarters, operational commands, Defence Headquarters, training institutions and other strategic establishments.
At Headquarters NAF, key appointments include:
– AVM AK Ademuwagun Chief of Transformation and Innovation
– AVM IV Ajiboye Superintendent of Standards and Evaluation
– AVM PN Amadi Chief of Air Intelligence
– AVM NN Ananaba Chief of Operations
– AVM AH Bakari Air Provost Marshal
– AVM EE Efiom Chief of Training
– AVM MS Ibrahim Chairman, Air Expo and International Liaison
– AVM AG Kehinde Chief of Civil-Military Relations
– AVM MA Sulaiman Chief of Communications and Information Systems
– AVM S Peters Coordinator, Project Implementation Team
– AVM AJ Laoye Chief of Aircraft Engineering
Others are AVM AY Dari as General Manager, Nigerian Air Force Investment Limited Group of Companies, and AVM NS Okoro as Director-General, AFRDI.
Other Headquarters appointments include AVM AK Famuyiwa as Director of Coordination and Cooperation; AVM AK Bello as Director of Armament; AVM YA Katabiya as Director of Logistics; AVM EO Ashiegbu as Director of Policy; AVM GA Mbaka as Director of Aircraft Engineering; AVM AL Dakwat as Director of Research and Development; AVM SO Eyekosi as Director of Plans; and AVM AG Akinyimika as Director of Personnel Management.
– AVM NI Ilo Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Tactical Air Command
– AVM BR Mamman AOC, Mobility Command
– AVM OS OgunsinavAOC, Logistics Command
– *AVM MN Onyebashi AOC, Special Operations Command
– AVM FCS Nwakara AOC, Ground Training Command
To further strengthen operational command structures, AVM JI Ukeh was appointed Commander, Nigerian Air Defence Corps (NADC), while AVM GI Jibia becomes Deputy Force Commander, Operation HADIN KAI.
Chiefs of Staff appointed include AVM OA Abu (Mobility Command), AVM I Subi (Special Operations Command), AVM NB Folaji (Tactical Air Command), AVM F Ekpah (Ground Training Command), AVM ES Odekina (Logistics Command) and AVM M Umar (Air Training Command).
– AVM PB Philips Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC)
– AVM MC Ekwueme Commandant, Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (AFRC)
– AVM AO Akinbunwa Commandant, Air Force War College
– AVM A Idris Commandant, Air Warfare Doctrine Centre
– AVM JA Ekwuribe Commandant, Regiment Training Centre
– AVM OC Ubadike, Commandant, Air Force Institute of Technology
– AVM AI Sambo, Commandant, Nigerian Air Force College of Logistics and Management
– AVM M Yusuf Deputy Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy
Others are AVM SA Eyoma as Deputy Commandant, Air Force Institute of Technology; AVM FO Ankeli as Commandant, Air Traffic Services Training Centre; and AVM U Ariahu as Deputy Commandant, Nigerian Air Force College of Logistics and Management.
At the strategic defence level, AVM UK Abdullahi was appointed Director of Defence Operations at Defence Headquarters (DHQ), while AVM EOE Ebiowe moves to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) as Deputy Coordinator, National Intelligence.
Other DHQ appointments include AVM DDG Pwajok (Director of Technical Services, DIA), AVM I Sani (Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence), AVM AA Shinkafi (Director of Liaison), AVM AO Shogbamu (Director of Military Strategy), AVM RK Olanrewaju (Director of Search and Rescue), AVM J Usman (Director of Special Duties), AVM JJ Ijudigal (Director of Sports), AVM ZA Usman (Director of Cyber Operations), AVM EK Gabkwet (Director of Civil-Military Relations) and AVM GAA Bello (Director of Joint Warfare Doctrine).
At the Defence Space Administration, AVM AA Suleh becomes Deputy Chief, AVM OA Oyename Director of Earth Observation, and AVM SS Lazarus Director of Launch Vehicles and Space Operations. AVM OT Salami was posted to the Defence Space Command Centre as Deputy Chief.
At the Air Power Centre of Excellence (APCOE), AVM AI Hanidu becomes Director of Integrated Air Power Studies, AVM OF Akinboyewa Deputy Director-General, and AVM MM Omar Director, Museum/Hall of Fame.
Other appointments include AVM CE Akubue as Managing Director, Aircraft Engineering and Technical Services Limited (AETSL), AVM CE Akpa as Commander, Headquarters NAF Camp, and AVM DO Dickson as General Manager, Operations, Defence Health Care Limited (DHCL).
The CAS said the realignment reflects the NAF’s commitment to continuous leadership renewal, stronger institutional accountability and enhanced operational effectiveness.
He expressed confidence that the competence and wealth of experience of the newly appointed officers would further advance his Command Philosophy and strengthen the Service’s capacity to deliver decisive airpower effects in support of joint operations and national security objectives.
