The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has approved a major shake-up of its senior leadership, with fresh postings and appointments across operational commands, Service Headquarters, defence institutions and strategic security establishments to strengthen operational effectiveness and enhance institutional capacity.
The exercise, approved by Sunday Kelvin Aneke, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), on Saturday, takes effect this month and involves the redeployment of several Air Vice Marshals (AVMs) to key command and leadership positions.
The appointments cover operational commands, intelligence, training, logistics, aircraft engineering, military strategy, space operations and other critical areas of the armed forces, in what the Air Force described as a strategic effort to align professional experience with its evolving operational and institutional priorities.
Under the new arrangement, NI Ilo (AVM) has been appointed Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Tactical Air Command, while BR Mamman (AVM) takes over as AOC, Mobility Command.
Other operational command appointments include OS Ogunsina (AVM) as AOC, Logistics Command; MN Onyebashi (AVM) as AOC, Special Operations Command; and AVM FCS Nwakara as AOC, Ground Training Command.
The changes also extend to the leadership of the Air Force’s operational support structures, with JI Ukeh (AVM) appointed Commander, Nigerian Air Defence Corps.
At the Service Headquarters, several senior officers have been assigned responsibilities covering operations, intelligence, training, transformation, communications and aircraft engineering.
AVM NN Ananaba has been appointed Chief of Operations, while AVM PN Amadi becomes Chief of Air Intelligence. AVM AK Ademuwagun takes over as Chief of Transformation and Innovation, and AVM EE Efiom has been named Chief of Training.
Other appointments include AVM IV Ajiboye as Superintendent of Standards and Evaluation; AH Bakari as Air Provost Marshal; MS Ibrahim as Chairman, Air Expo and International Liaison; and AG Kehinde as Chief of Civil-Military Relations.
AVM MA Sulaiman has been appointed Chief of Communications and Information Systems, while S Peters becomes Coordinator of the Project Implementation Team. AJ Laoye has also been appointed Chief of Aircraft Engineering.
In other institutional appointments at the Service Headquarters, AVMs AY Dari becomes General Manager of the Nigerian Air Force Investment Limited Group of Companies, while NS Okoro has been appointed Director-General of the AFRDI.
The leadership restructuring also affects the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), where several Air Force officers have been assigned strategic responsibilities in joint military operations, intelligence, defence planning and military doctrine.
AVMs UK Abdullahi has been appointed Director of Defence Operations at the DHQ, while EOE Ebiowe moves to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) as Deputy Coordinator, National Intelligence.
At the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), AVMs DDG Pwajok has been appointed Director of Technical Services, while I Sani becomes Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence.
Other appointments at the Defence Headquarters include AVMs AA Shinkafi as Director of Liaison; AO Shogbamu as Director of Military Strategy; RK Olanrewaju as Director of Search and Rescue; and J Usman as Director of Special Duties.
AVMs JJ Ijudigal has been appointed Director of Sports, while ZA Usman becomes Director of Cyber Operations. EK Gabkwet takes over as Director of Civil-Military Relations, and GAA Bello has been named Director of Joint Warfare Doctrine.
The Defence Space Administration (DSA) is also affected by the changes, with AVM AA Suleh appointed Deputy Chief of Defence Space Administration.
AVMs OA Oyename becomes Director of Earth Observation, while SS Lazarus has been appointed Director of Launch Vehicles and Space Operations.
Similarly, AVMs OT Salami has been posted to the Defence Space Command Centre as Deputy Chief, while AI Hanidu moves to the Air Power Centre of Excellence (APCOE) as Director of Integrated Air Power Studies.
Other appointments at the centre include AVMs OF Akinboyewa as Deputy Director-General and MM Omar as Director of Museum and Hall of Fame.
At Defence Health Care Limited, DO Dickson (AVM) has been appointed General Manager, Operations.
The Air Force also announced changes across its administrative, technical and policy departments at the Service Headquarters.
Under the new arrangement, AVMs AK Famuyiwa becomes Director of Coordination and Cooperation; AVM AK Bello, Director of Armament; YA Katabiya, Director of Logistics; and AVM EO Ashiegbu, Director of Policy.
Others are AVM GA Mbaka as Director of Aircraft Engineering; AVMs AL Dakwat as Director of Research and Development; SO Eyekosi as Director of Plans; and AG Akinyimika as Director of Personnel Management.
The redeployment further covers operational command staff positions, with AVMs OA Abu appointed Chief of Staff, Mobility Command; I Subi, Chief of Staff, Special Operations Command; and NB Folaji, Chief of Staff, Tactical Air Command.
AVM F Ekpah has been appointed Chief of Staff, Ground Training Command, while AVMs ES Odekina becomes Chief of Staff, Logistics Command. M Umar has also been named Chief of Staff, Air Training Command.
In the ongoing military operations against insurgency and other security threats in the North-East, GI Jibia (AVM) has been appointed Deputy Force Commander, Operation HADIN KAI.
The Air Force also announced changes in the leadership of some of its technical and commercial establishments, with CE Akubue (AVM) appointed Managing Director of Aircraft Engineering and Technical Services Limited (AETSL).
AVM CE Akpa has been appointed Commander, Headquarters NAF Camp.
The latest exercise also affects the leadership of military training and professional development institutions, including the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), the Armed Forces Resettlement Centre and various Air Force training establishments.
AVMs PB Philips has been appointed Commandant of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, while MC Ekwueme becomes Commandant of the Armed Forces Resettlement Centre.
At the Air Force War College, AVMs AO Akinbunwa has been appointed Commandant, while A Idris becomes Commandant of the Air Warfare Doctrine Centre.
Other appointments include AVM JA Ekwuribe as Commandant, Regiment Training Centre; AVM OC Ubadike as Commandant, Air Force Institute of Technology; and AVM AI Sambo as Commandant, Nigerian Air Force College of Logistics and Management.
AVM M Yusuf has been appointed Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
Additional professional military education appointments include AVMs SA Eyoma as Deputy Commandant, Air Force Institute of Technology; FO Ankeli as Commandant, Air Traffic Services Training Centre; and U Ariahu as Deputy Commandant, Nigerian Air Force College of Logistics and Management.
The Air Force said the leadership realignment was intended to promote continuous leadership renewal, strengthen institutional accountability and improve operational effectiveness across its formations and establishments.
According to the Service, the appointments reflect the need to match leadership competencies and professional experience with its changing operational requirements and institutional priorities.
Aneke expressed confidence that the newly appointed officers would deploy their professional competence and wealth of experience to advance his command philosophy and strengthen the Air Force’s capacity to deliver decisive airpower effects in support of joint military operations and national security objectives.
All affected officers have been directed to assume their new responsibilities and complete the necessary handover and takeover formalities on or before November 13, 2026.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force.