The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced a major leadership reshuffle involving senior officers across its operational commands, Defence Headquarters, military training institutions and other strategic establishments.
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, improving institutional capacity and enhancing operational readiness in support of national security.
According to a statement signed by Ehimen Ejodame, Air Commodore and Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force, the appointments reflect efforts to align officers’ professional experience and competencies with the Service’s evolving operational and institutional priorities.
At Headquarters NAF, AVM AK Ademuwagun has been appointed Chief of Transformation and Innovation, while AVM IV Ajiboye becomes Superintendent of Standards and Evaluation.
Other appointments at the headquarters include AVM PN Amadi as Chief of Air Intelligence; AVM NN Ananaba as Chief of Operations; AVM AH Bakari as Air Provost Marshal; AVM EE Efiom as Chief of Training; AVM MS Ibrahim as Chairman, Air Expo and International Liaison; and AVM AG Kehinde as Chief of Civil-Military Relations.
Also appointed are AVM MA Sulaiman as Chief of Communications and Information Systems; AVM S Peters as Coordinator, Project Implementation Team; and AVM AJ Laoye as Chief of Aircraft Engineering.
In the operational commands, AVM NI Ilo has been appointed Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Tactical Air Command, while AVM BR Mamman takes charge of Mobility Command.
AVM OS Ogunsina becomes AOC, Logistics Command; AVM MN Onyebashi takes over Special Operations Command; and AVM FCS Nwakara is appointed AOC, Ground Training Command.
The reshuffle also affects key military training institutions, with AVM PB Philips 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 EOE Ebiowe moves to the Office of the National Security Adviser as Deputy Coordinator, National Intelligence.
Other appointments across defence institutions include AVM DDG Pwajok as Director of Technical Services, Defence Intelligence Agency; AVM I Sani as Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence; AVM AA Shinkafi as Director of Liaison, DHQ; AVM AO Shogbamu as Director of Military Strategy; AVM RK Olanrewaju as Director of Search and Rescue; and AVM J Usman as Director of Special Duties.
Similarly, AVM JJ Ijudigal has been appointed Director of Sports; AVM ZA Usman, Director of Cyber Operations; AVM EK Gabkwet, Director of Civil-Military Relations; and AVM GAA Bello, Director of Joint Warfare Doctrine, all at the Defence Headquarters.
At the Defence Space Administration, AVM AA Suleh becomes Deputy Chief, while AVM OA Oyename and AVM SS Lazarus have been appointed Directors of Earth Observation and Launch Vehicles and Space Operations, respectively.
AVM OT Salami moves 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.
Other appointments at the centre include AVM OF Akinboyewa as Deputy Director-General and AVM MM Omar as Director, Museum/Hall of Fame. AVM DO Dickson has also been appointed General Manager, Operations, Defence Health Care Limited.
Further appointments at Headquarters NAF include AVM AK Famuyiwa as Director of Coordination and Cooperation; AVM AK Bello as Director of Armament; AVM YA Katabiya as Director of Logistics; AVM EO Ashiegbu as Director of Policy; AVM GA Mbaka as Director of Aircraft Engineering; AVM AL Dakwat as Director of Research and Development; AVM SO Eyekosi as Director of Plans; and AVM AG Akinyimika as Director of Personnel Management.
To strengthen operational command structures, AVM JI Ukeh has been appointed Commander of the Nigerian Air Defence Corps, while AVM GI Jibia becomes Deputy Force Commander, Operation HADIN KAI.
Other command 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 appointments, AVM CE Akubue becomes Managing Director of Aircraft Engineering and Technical Services Limited, while AVM CE Akpa has been appointed Commander, Headquarters NAF Camp.
The reshuffle further includes AVM SA Eyoma as Deputy Commandant, Air Force Institute of Technology; AVM FO Ankeli as Commandant, Air Traffic Services Training Centre; and AVM U Ariahu as Deputy Commandant, Nigerian Air Force College of Logistics and Management.
The CAS expressed confidence that the newly appointed officers would bring their professional competence and wealth of experience to bear in advancing his Command Philosophy and strengthening the Air Force’s capacity to deliver decisive airpower effects in support of joint operations and national security objectives.
All affected officers are expected to assume their new appointments and complete the necessary handover and takeover formalities not later than November 13, 2026.
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