President Bola Tinubu has on Friday appointed new Service Chiefs to spearhead Nigeria’s Armed Forces, marking a decisive step in strengthening the nation’s defence architecture.
The appointments bring seasoned officers-Maj.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, Rear Adm. Idi Abbas, AVM Sunday Aneke, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, and Major General Emmanuel Akomaye Parker Undiandeye, whose leadership is expected to enhance security operations nationwide.
Below are profiles of the new Service Chiefs.
Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede: Chief of Defence Staff
Lieutenant General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede, born in 1968 in Ekiti State, is a seasoned military officer whose career spans over three decades of distinguished service. A member of the 39th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1992, with service dating back to 1987.
Oluyede’s career reflects an exceptional blend of combat command and strategic leadership. He has served as Platoon Commander and Adjutant in 65 Battalion, Company Commander at 177 Guards Battalion, and Staff Officer in the Guards Brigade. He also commanded the 27 Task Force Brigade under Operation HADIN KAI in the North-East and served as Commandant of the Amphibious Training School.
His international experience includes participation in peacekeeping operations with ECOMOG in Liberia and Operation HARMONY IV in the Bakassi Peninsula.
Promoted to Major General in September 2020, Oluyede became Acting Chief of Army Staff in October 2024 following health issues affecting his predecessor, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja. His confirmation as the 24th COAS marked a pivotal moment for the Army, symbolising continuity and generational leadership.
At 56, General Oluyede embodies a balance of experience and modern outlook, positioning him to manage Nigeria’s evolving security landscape. His leadership is recognised for its discipline, pragmatism, and commitment to professionalism.
He has been honoured with several awards, including the Corps Medal of Honour, Grand Service Star, Field Command Medal of Honour, and the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award.
Married with three children, Lt.-Gen. Oluyede is respected for his calm, disciplined, and visionary leadership — a quality that now defines his stewardship as Chief of Defence Staff.
Maj.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu: New Chief of Army Staff
Maj.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu’s appointment as the 25th Chief of Army Staff (COAS) by President Bola Tinubu heralds a new era in the Nigerian Army-one defined by modernisation, professionalism, and a renewed commitment to defending national sovereignty. He succeeds Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, who now serves as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).
Born on December 18, 1971, in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, Shaibu joined the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in 1989 as part of the 41 Regular Course and was commissioned into the Armoured Corps in 1994.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the NDA and several postgraduate qualifications from institutions in Africa, Europe, and the United States. These include a Postgraduate Certificate in Public Administration from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, and three Master’s degrees in Public Administration (University of Calabar), Strategic Studies (University of Ibadan), and Security and Strategic Studies (National Defence University, Washington D.C.).
A Harvard Kennedy School alumnus, Shaibu has undergone advanced training at the National Defence College, Abuja, and the National Productivity Centre’s Senior Executive Programme in Applied Leadership and Strategy.
His distinguished military career includes key roles such as General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Commander of Sector 1, Operation HADIN KAI in Maiduguri, Chief of Training at Army Headquarters, and Director of Coordination at the National Defence College. He also served as a Military Observer with the African Mission in Sudan and participated in peacekeeping operations in Liberia.
Shaibu’s operational record covers major national security missions including Operations HARMONY, LAFIYA DOLE, and HADIN KAI. For his valour and service, he has received several honours, including the Forces Service Star (FSS), Meritorious Service Star (MSS), Distinguished Service Star (DSS), and the Purple Heart Medal.
Married to Hajia Safiyyah Hassan and blessed with two children, Maj.-Gen. Shaibu is expected to bring renewed energy to the Army, focusing on joint operations, intelligence-driven warfare, and innovation in military technology.
Rear Adm. Idi Abbas: New Chief of Naval Staff
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, newly appointed Chief of Naval Staff, brings over three decades of naval expertise to the Nigerian Navy’s leadership.
Born on September 20, 1969, in Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State, Abbas began his education at Air Force Military School, Jos, before enrolling in the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in 1987 as part of the 40 Regular Course. He was commissioned as a Sub-Lieutenant in 1993 with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry.
A specialist in Above Water Warfare, Abbas has completed numerous local and international courses, including the Senior Staff Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, and the UN Military Observer Course in Tanzania. He is also a graduate of the National Defence College, Abuja.
His career has seen him occupy critical positions such as Commanding Officer, Burma Battalion (NDA); Commander, Task Group Operation TSARE TEKU; Chief of Naval Safety and Standards; and Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command. He also served as Chief of Defence Civil-Military Relations at Defence Headquarters.
A Fellow of the Defence College (fdc) and member of both the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) and the International Institute of Professional Security (IIPS), Abbas has earned several honours, including the Forces Service Star (FSS), Meritorious Service Star (MSS), Distinguished Service Star (DSS), and the Grand Service Star (GSS).
Known for his calm yet strategic leadership, Rear Adm. Abbas is expected to focus on enhancing maritime security, safeguarding Nigeria’s waterways, and curbing piracy and illegal oil activities.
Outside duty, he enjoys hockey and driving. He is married to Mrs Aisha Abbas, and they have two sons.
Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke: New Chief of Air Staff
President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Sunday Kelvin Aneke as Chief of Air Staff signals a new phase in the Nigerian Air Force’s (NAF) evolution, one rooted in reform, strategic vision, and air power modernisation.
Born on February 20, 1972, in Makurdi, Benue State, Aneke hails from Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State.
He attended Army Children School, Kaduna, and Government College, Kaduna, before joining the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1988 as part of the 40 Regular Course. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in September 1993.
Aneke’s academic and professional credentials are extensive. He holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Management (University of Calabar), a Master’s in International Affairs and Diplomacy (Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria), another in Political Economy and Development Studies (University of Abuja), and a Master’s in Strategic Studies from the United States Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base.
He has attended several professional military courses, including the Junior and Senior Staff Courses at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, and has undergone specialised training in aeromechanical engineering, defence resource management, and air mobility operations.
AVM Aneke has held key command and staff positions, including General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Maiduguri; Commanding Officer, Base Services Wing, Air Maritime Group, Benin; Director of Policy at NAF Headquarters; Chief of Training and Operations, NAF Headquarters; and Air Officer Commanding, Mobility Command, Yenagoa. He has also served with the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the African Union Mission in Sudan.
An experienced pilot, he has accumulated over 4,359 flying hours across several aircraft types, including Air Beetle 18, Dornier 228, Citation 500, Falcon 900, Gulfstream V/550, and Hawker 4000. His service decorations include the FSS, MSS, DSS, GSS, and the Defence General Staff Medal (DGSM).
AVM Aneke is married to Mrs Ngozi Enderline Aneke, and they have three sons-Chukwuebuka Kelvin, Ifeanyichukwu Brian, and Uchechukwu Jason. He enjoys flying, music, and movies.
Known for his calm demeanour and reform-driven leadership, Aneke’s tenure is expected to focus on enhancing air mobility, intelligence-led operations, modernising the NAF fleet, and driving innovation in air power strategy.
- Major General Emmanuel Akomaye Parker Undiandeye: Chief of Defence Intelligence
Major General Emmanuel Akomaye Parker Undiandeye, a seasoned intelligence officer and scholar-soldier, was born on 2nd September 1968 in Bedia, Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State, to the family of Mr. Sylvanus and Mrs. Maria Undiandeye.
He began his military career at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, before proceeding to the prestigious Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, United Kingdom, where he completed his cadet training. Over the years, he has undertaken several advanced military and academic courses, including at the Nigerian Army College of Logistics, Lagos, and the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, for both Junior and Senior Courses.
Maj. Gen. Undiandeye also attended the National Defence University, Washington D.C., USA, and the National Defence College, Abuja, where he earned a Master’s Degree from the University of Ibadan. His quest for knowledge further took him to the Harvard Kennedy School of Executive Administration, USA, for the Senior Executives National and International Security Programme, and the International Intelligence Directors Course in Chicksands, UK.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in History and a Master of Arts in Strategic Security Studies. He is an International Counter-Terrorism Fellow (ICTF) of the National Defence University’s College of International Security Affairs (CISA), Washington D.C., USA.
Throughout his illustrious career, Maj. Gen. Undiandeye has held numerous command, staff, and instructional positions, contributing immensely to national and global security. Notably, he served as Chief of Staff at the Headquarters Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps, where he oversaw operational intelligence gathering and dissemination. He was also Director of Lessons Learnt at the Army Headquarters Department of Transformation and Innovation, and Director of Foreign Liaison at the Defence Intelligence Agency.
Other key appointments include Senior Research Fellow at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Director of Psychological Warfare at Defence Headquarters, and Deputy Commandant at the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre. Until his recent appointment, he was Commandant of the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre, Jaji.
Internationally, Maj. Gen. Undiandeye distinguished himself as Deputy Chief Operations Officer with the United Nations Mission in Liberia, Deputy Chief of Assessments at UN Headquarters in New York, and as a pioneer seconded staff to the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), where he played a crucial role in averting conflict between South Sudan and the Republic of Sudan.
He assumed command as the 17th Chief of Defence Intelligence on 23rd June 2023.
Maj. Gen. Undiandeye’s medals and decorations include the Grand Service Star (GSS), Defence Meritorious Star (DMS), Defence Administration Medal (DAM), Field Command Medal (FCM), Training Support Medal (TSM), and the United Nations Headquarters Medal (2013). He is a Fellow of several professional and strategic institutions, including the National Defence College (fdc), Nigeria; the National Defense University, Washington D.C. (fndu); the Chartered Institute of Administration (FCAI); the International Institute of Professional Security (FIIPS); and the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (FNARC).
A dedicated family man, he is married to Mrs. Jane Ekor Undiandeye, and their union is blessed with three children. His hobbies include reading, golf, photography, and nature watching.
