MAJOR SHAKE-UP: NAF Shuffles Top Brass, Appoints New Air Commanders, Defence Chiefs
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced a major leadership restructuring involving the appointment and redeployment of senior officers to key command, operational, administrative and strategic positions across the military service and other national security 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, improving institutional capacity and sustaining operational readiness in support of national security objectives.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the appointments covered Service Headquarters, operational commands, defence institutions, training establishments and other strategic organisations.
At the Service Headquarters, AVM AK Ademuwagun was appointed Chief of Transformation and Innovation, while AVM NN Ananaba becomes Chief of Operations. Other key appointments include AVM PN Amadi as Chief of Air Intelligence; AVM EE Efiom as Chief of Training; AVM MA Sulaiman as Chief of Communications and Information Systems; and AVM AJ Laoye as Chief of Aircraft Engineering.
Similarly, AVM AG Kehinde was appointed Chief of Civil-Military Relations, while AVM AH Bakari becomes Air Provost Marshal. AVM MS Ibrahim was named Chairman, Air Expo and International Liaison, and AVM S Peters appointed 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 charge of Mobility Command.
Other appointments include AVM OS Ogunsina as AOC, Logistics Command; AVM MN Onyebashi as AOC, Special Operations Command; and AVM FCS Nwakara as AOC, Ground Training Command.
The restructuring also affected strategic positions at Defence Headquarters (DHQ), where AVM UK Abdullahi was appointed Director of Defence Operations, while AVM EOE Ebiowe moves to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) as Deputy Coordinator, National Intelligence.
At the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), AVM DDG Pwajok was appointed Director of Technical Services, while AVM I Sani becomes Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence.
Other appointments at DHQ 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 ZA Usman as Director of Cyber Operations; and AVM EK Gabkwet as Director of Civil-Military Relations.
The Defence Space Administration (DSA) also recorded key changes, with AVM AA Suleh appointed Deputy Chief, while AVM OA Oyename becomes Director of Earth Observation and AVM SS Lazarus takes charge of Launch Vehicles and Space Operations.
Similarly, AVM OT Salami was appointed Deputy Chief at the Defence Space Command Centre, while AVM AI Hanidu becomes Director of Integrated Air Power Studies at the Air Power Centre of Excellence (APCOE).
In the area of professional military education and institutional development, AVM PB Philips was 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; and AVM OC Ubadike as Commandant, Air Force Institute of Technology.
AVM AI Sambo was appointed Commandant of the Nigerian Air Force College of Logistics and Management, while AVM M Yusuf becomes Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).
Further appointments across the 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 was appointed Commander of the Nigerian Air Defence Corps (NADC), while AVM GI Jibia becomes Deputy Force Commander of 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 the defence industry and other strategic establishments, AVM CE Akubue was appointed Managing Director of Aircraft Engineering and Technical Services Limited (AETSL), while AVM DO Dickson becomes General Manager, Operations, Defence Holding Company Limited (DHCL).
AVM AY Dari was also appointed General Manager of the Nigerian Air Force Investment Limited Group of Companies, while AVM NS Okoro becomes Director-General of the Air Force Research and Development Institute (AFRDI).
Additionally, AVM CE Akpa was appointed Commander, Headquarters NAF Camp.
The statement said the appointments reflected the Service’s commitment to leadership renewal, institutional accountability and improved operational effectiveness.
According to the CAS, the professional competence and extensive experience of the newly appointed officers would strengthen the implementation of his Command Philosophy and enhance the NAF’s capacity to deliver decisive airpower effects in support of joint military operations and national security objectives.
All affected officers are expected to assume their new responsibilities and complete the necessary handover and takeover formalities on or before November 13, 2026.
By TimesNG