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Abuja, Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has announced sweeping changes to Nigeria’s military leadership, sacking General Christopher Musa as Chief of Defense Staff and appointing General Olufemi Oluyede, a former Chief of Army Staff, as his replacement.
The president also named Major-General Waidi Shaibu as the new Chief of Army Staff, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff, and Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke as Chief of Air Staff.
The changes, announced in a statement by presidential spokesperson Sunday Dare, come just weeks after reports emerged that 16 senior soldiers were arrested for allegedly plotting a coup to overthrow the federal government.
Although the presidency did not link the reshuffle to the alleged coup plot, the timing has stirred speculation within political and military circles.
“The President appointed General Olufemi Oluyede to replace General Christopher Musa as the new Chief of Defence Staff,” the statement said. “Major-General W. Shaibu is the new Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke is Chief of Air Staff, while Rear Admiral I. Abbas is the new Chief of Naval Staff.”
Mr Tinubu retained Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye as Chief of Defence Intelligence, praising the outgoing service chiefs for their “patriotic service and dedicated leadership.”
“The President charges the newly appointed Service Chiefs to justify the confidence reposed in them to further enhance professionalism, vigilance, and comradeship within the Armed Forces of Nigeria,” the statement added.
The new appointments take immediate effect.
General Olufemi Oluyede, who replaces General Musa, previously served as Chief of Army Staff before his redeployment in early 2024. Known for his strong operational discipline and strategic reforms, he led modernization efforts within the army and emphasized inter-agency cooperation in national security operations.
Before his new appointment, Major-General Waidi Shaibu served as Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), the counterinsurgency task force in the North-East, and as General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army.
He earned recognition for key operational successes in Borno State, leading clearance missions in Sambisa Forest and rebuilding military-community relations. He also championed the refurbishment of army hardware and specialized training in improvised explosive device (IED) mitigation.
Shaibu later served as Deputy Commandant of the National Defence College and was recently posted to the Defence Space Agency before this appointment.
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, a member of the 26th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy, previously served as Chief of Naval Safety and Standards and Director of Operations at Naval Headquarters.
A veteran of the ECOMOG peacekeeping mission in Liberia (1996), he has served on several naval vessels including NNS AMBE, NNS ARADU, and NNS EKUN.
As Base Operations Officer of NNS PATHFINDER, he coordinated anti-illegal bunkering campaigns that significantly reduced maritime crime in the Niger Delta.
Abbas holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan and trained at the Amphibious Warfare School, US Marine Corps University.
Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke, born on 20 February 1972, previously served as Air Officer Commanding (AOC) of both the Mobility Command and Tactical Air Command (TAC) in Makurdi.
He is widely respected for his emphasis on operational readiness, logistics, and the use of emerging technologies in modern air operations.
The reshuffle comes amid rising anxiety over reports of discontent within the armed forces and alleged coup attempts against President Tinubu’s administration.
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