- Safiu Kehinde
President Bola Tinubu has on Friday made huge changes and reshuffling of the Nigerian Armed Forces Service Chiefs.
The change saw the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Olufemi Oluyede, redeployed as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) which marked an end to the tenure of CDS Christopher Musa.
With the redeployment of Oluyede, Tinubu announced the appointment of Maj. Gen. Waidi Shaibu as the new COAS.
In the same vein, the President announced the appointment of Air Vice Marshall S.K Aneke as the new Chief of Air Staff while Rear Admiral I. Abass emerges new Chief of Naval Staff.
However, Maj. Gen. EAP Undiendeye was retained as the Chief of Defence Intelligence.
With new faces emerging in the helm of the country’s security affairs, NPO Reports delved into the profile of the newly appointed and redeployed Service Chiefs.
Major General Waidi Shaibu (COAS)
Maj. Gen. Waidi Shaibu’s name might not resonate to the hears of average Nigerians, but the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS) is a household name in the military barracks.
Prior to his appointment today, Shaibu had recently stepped down as the Theatre Commander of the renowned Northeast Operation Hadin Kai.
The command had over time established itself as a force to reckon with its fight against Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) terrorist groups in Born state.
Shaibu had in April handed over the command to Maj. Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar.
The new COAS once served as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Div, Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri.
His tenure reportedly recorded massive successes in defeating and degrading many terrorists, with many surrendering, including their families, currently undergoing rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
Air Vice Marshall S.K Aneke (Chief of Air Staff)
Born on February 20, 1972, in Makurdi, Benue State, the new Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Aneke, hails from Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State.
He began his early education at the Army Children School, New Cantonment ‘A’, Kaduna (1976–1982), and later attended Government College, Kaduna, where he obtained his West African School Certificate in 1987.
Aneke was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, as a member of the 40th Regular Course in September 1988 and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the Nigerian Air Force on September 10, 1993.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics, a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from the University of Calabar, a master’s degree in international Affairs and Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and another master’s in political economy and Developmental Studies from the University of Abuja.
He also earned a master’s degree in strategic studies from the prestigious U.S. Air War College, Air University, Montgomery, Alabama.
Aneke has held several key command and staff positions which include Admin Officer, Aircraft Overhaul Centre, Aircraft Maintenance Depot, Ikeja; Logistics Officer, 301 Flying Training School, Kaduna; Commanding Officer, Base Services Wing, Air Maritime Group, Benin
He also served in other capacities such as Commander, 307 Executive Airlift Group, Abuja; Director of Safety, Nigerian Air Force Headquarters; Deputy Director of Operations, Nigerian Air Force Headquarters; and Air Officer Commanding, Mobility Command, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas (Chief of Naval Staff)
The new Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, reportedly has a distinguished career in the Nigerian Navy, with extensive operational experience in oil-theft control, illegal bunkering mitigation and coastal security.
Abass formerly served as Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command in Yenagoa.
He was also a former Chief Staff Officer at the Central Naval Command.
In 2023, Abass was listed among the senior officers affected by a major shake-up in the Navy as he was redeployed from being a Director of Operations, at Naval Headquarters to Chief of Naval Safety and Standards.
General Olufemi Oluyede (Chief of Defence Staff)
The demise of former COAS, Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, on the 5th of November 2024, had led to the emergence of Gen. Olufemi Oluyede as the new Army Chief.
However, Tinubu reshuffling of the Service Chiefs saw Oluyede redeployed as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), replacing Gen. Christopher Musa.
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.
Oluyede is a member of the 39th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy, along with Late Lt. Gen Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja. His military career has spanned numerous command and staff roles across Nigeria and in various international deployments. Promoted to the rank of major general in 2020, he has many held command that have 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.
Major General Emmanuel Akomaye Parker (EAP) Undiandeye ( Chief of Defence Intelligence)
The only Service Chief who had his role retained, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Parker Akomaye Undiandeye, was appointed by Tinubu as of Chief of Defence Intelligence in June 2023.
Born in the Cross River town of Obudu, Undiandeye was commissioned into the Nigerian Army as a Second Lieutenant.
He was a member of the Troop Contributing Countries (TCC) Working Group for the development of the second edition of the United Nations Infantry Battalion Manual (UNIBAM) published in 2020 by the UN’s Office of military affairs.
In December 2020, Undiandeye was promoted to the rank of Major General.
The Army Chief brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new role.
He has also demonstrated exemplary leadership and a deep understanding of intelligence operations with his distinguished military career.