NAF approves major leadership shake-up, redeploys senior officers

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has approved a major leadership realignment involving the posting and appointment of senior officers to key command, operational, administrative and training positions across the Service and other strategic defence institutions.

The exercise, approved by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, on November 7, 2026, is aimed at strengthening command effectiveness, enhancing institutional capacity and sustaining operational readiness in support of national security objectives. The new appointments take effect in November, with all affected officers expected to assume their positions and complete handover formalities by November 13.

The Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday, explaining that the realignment was designed to align leadership competencies and professional experience with the Service’s evolving operational and institutional priorities.

Under the new arrangement, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) AK Ademuwagun has been appointed Chief of Transformation and Innovation at Headquarters NAF, while AVM NN Ananaba becomes Chief of Operations. Other key appointments at the headquarters include AVM PN Amadi as Chief of Air Intelligence; AVM EE Efiom as Chief of Training; AVM AH Bakari as Air Provost Marshal; AVM MA Sulaiman as Chief of Communications and Information Systems; and AVM AJ Laoye as Chief of Aircraft Engineering.

Other appointments at Headquarters NAF include AVM IV Ajiboye as Superintendent of Standards and Evaluation; AVM MS Ibrahim as Chairman, Air Expo and International Liaison; AVM AG Kehinde as Chief of Civil-Military Relations; and AVM S Peters as Coordinator, Project Implementation Team.

At the operational command level, AVM NI Ilo has been appointed Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Tactical Air Command, while AVM BR Mamman takes over as AOC, Mobility Command. AVM OS Ogunsina becomes AOC, Logistics Command; AVM MN Onyebashi is appointed AOC, Special Operations Command; and AVM FCS Nwakara assumes command of Ground Training Command.

In the area of professional military education and institutional development, AVM PB Philips has been appointed Commandant of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), while AVM MC Ekwueme becomes Commandant of the Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (AFRC).

Other appointments include AVM AO Akinbunwa as Commandant, Air Force War College; AVM A Idris as Commandant, Air Warfare Doctrine Centre; AVM JA Ekwuribe as Commandant, Regiment Training Centre; AVM OC Ubadike as Commandant, Air Force Institute of Technology; AVM AI Sambo as Commandant, Nigerian Air Force College of Logistics and Management; and AVM M Yusuf as Deputy Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy.

At the Defence Headquarters, AVM UK Abdullahi has been appointed Director of Defence Operations, while AVM I Sani becomes Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence. AVM DDG Pwajok is appointed Director of Technical Services at the Defence Intelligence Agency, while AVM EOE Ebiowe moves to the Office of the National Security Adviser as Deputy Coordinator, National Intelligence.

Other appointments at the Defence Headquarters include AVM AA Shinkafi as Director of Liaison; AVM AO Shogbamu as Director of Military Strategy; AVM RK Olanrewaju as Director of Search and Rescue; AVM J Usman as Director of Special Duties; AVM JJ Ijudigal as Director of Sports; AVM ZA Usman as Director of Cyber Operations; AVM EK Gabkwet as Director of Civil-Military Relations; and AVM GAA Bello as Director of Joint Warfare Doctrine.

The realignment also affects the Defence Space Administration, where AVM AA Suleh has been appointed Deputy Chief, while AVM OA Oyename becomes Director of Earth Observation and AVM SS Lazarus takes charge as Director of Launch Vehicles and Space Operations.

Similarly, AVM OT Salami has been posted to the Defence Space Command Centre as Deputy Chief, while AVM AI Hanidu becomes Director of Integrated Air Power Studies at the Air Power Centre of Excellence. AVM OF Akinboyewa and AVM MM Omar have also been appointed Deputy Director-General and Director, Museum/Hall of Fame, respectively, at the centre.

To strengthen operational command structures, AVM JI Ukeh has been appointed Commander, Nigerian Air Defence Corps, while AVM GI Jibia becomes Deputy Force Commander, Operation HADIN KAI.

Other appointments include AVM OA Abu as Chief of Staff, Mobility Command; AVM I Subi as Chief of Staff, Special Operations Command; AVM NB Folaji as Chief of Staff, Tactical Air Command; AVM F Ekpah as Chief of Staff, Ground Training Command; AVM ES Odekina as Chief of Staff, Logistics Command; and AVM M Umar as Chief of Staff, Air Training Command.

In other strategic appointments, AVM CE Akubue becomes Managing Director, Aircraft Engineering and Technical Services Limited, while AVM CE Akpa has been appointed Commander, Headquarters NAF Camp. AVM DO Dickson becomes General Manager, Operations, Defence Health Care Limited.

The CAS expressed confidence that the professional competence and wealth of experience of the newly appointed officers would advance his Command Philosophy and strengthen the Service’s capacity to deliver decisive airpower effects in support of joint operations and national security objectives.

The leadership realignment, according to the statement, underscores the NAF’s commitment to continuous leadership renewal, institutional accountability and improved operational effectiveness.

This News Site uses cookies to improve reading experience. We assume this is OK but if not, please do opt-out. Accept Read More