NAF approves major leadership shake-up, redeploys senior officers

By Chuks Oyema-Aziken

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has actually authorized a significant management adjustment including the publishing and visit of senior officers to essential command, functional, administrative and training positions throughout the Service and other tactical defence organizations.

The workout, authorized by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, on November 7, 2026, is focused on reinforcing command efficiency, boosting institutional capability and sustaining functional preparedness in assistance of nationwide security goals. The brand-new consultations work in November, with all impacted officers anticipated to presume their positions and total handover rules by November 13.

The Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, revealed this in a declaration released on Sunday, describing that the adjustment was developed to line up management proficiencies and expert experience with the Service’s progressing functional and institutional top priorities.

Under the brand-new plan, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) AK Ademuwagun has actually been designated Chief of Transformation and Innovation at Headquarters NAF, while AVM NN Ananaba ends up being Chief of Operations. Other essential consultations at the head office consist of 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 visits at Headquarters NAF consist of 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 functional command level, AVM NI Ilo has actually been selected Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Tactical Air Command, while AVM BR Mamman takes control of as AOC, Mobility Command. AVM OS Ogunsina ends up being AOC, Logistics Command; AVM MN Onyebashi is selected AOC, Special Operations Command; and AVM FCS Nwakara presumes command of Ground Training Command.

In the location of expert military education and institutional advancement, AVM PB Philips has actually been selected Commandant of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), while AVM MC Ekwueme ends up being Commandant of the Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (AFRC).

Other visits consist of 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 actually been selected Director of Defence Operations, while AVM I Sani ends up being Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence. AVM DDG Pwajok is selected Director of Technical Services at the Defence Intelligence Agency, while AVM EOE Ebiowe transfers to the Office of the National Security Adviser as Deputy Coordinator, National Intelligence.

Other consultations at the Defence Headquarters consist of 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 adjustment likewise impacts the Defence Space Administration, where AVM AA Suleh has actually been selected Deputy Chief, while AVM OA Oyename ends up being Director of Earth Observation and AVM SS Lazarus takes charge as Director of Launch Vehicles and Space Operations.

AVM OT Salami has actually been published to the Defence Space Command Centre as Deputy Chief, while AVM AI Hanidu ends up being Director of Integrated Air Power Studies at the Air Power Centre of Excellence. AVM OF Akinboyewa and AVM MM Omar have actually likewise been designated Deputy Director-General and Director, Museum/Hall of Fame, respectively, at the centre.

To reinforce functional command structures, AVM JI Ukeh has actually been designated Commander, Nigerian Air Defence Corps, while AVM GI Jibia ends up being Deputy Force Commander, Operation HADIN KAI.

Other visits consist of 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 tactical consultations, AVM CE Akubue ends up being Managing Director, Aircraft Engineering and Technical Services Limited, while AVM CE Akpa has actually been designated Commander, Headquarters NAF Camp. AVM DO Dickson ends up being General Manager, Operations, Defence Health Care Limited.

The CAS revealed self-confidence that the expert proficiency and wealth of experience of the freshly designated officers would advance his Command Philosophy and reinforce the Service’s capability to provide definitive airpower results in assistance of joint operations and nationwide security goals.

The management adjustment, according to the declaration, highlights the NAF’s dedication to constant management renewal, institutional responsibility and enhanced functional efficiency.