NAF Announces Major Leadership Reshuffle, Appoints New Air Officers to Strategic Positions

NAF Announces Major Leadership Reshuffle, Appoints New Air Officers to Strategic Positions

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced a major leadership reshuffle involving the appointment and redeployment of senior officers to strategic positions across its commands, formations, training institutions and defence 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 sustaining operational readiness in support of national security.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the appointments take effect from November 2026.

At Headquarters NAF, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) AK Ademuwagun has been appointed Chief of Transformation and Innovation, while AVM IV Ajiboye becomes Superintendent of Standards and Evaluation. Other appointments 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; and AVM MS Ibrahim as Chairman, Air Expo and International Liaison.

Also appointed are AVM AG Kehinde as Chief of Civil-Military Relations; 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.

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.

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.

In the area of military education and training, 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 EOE Ebiowe moves to the Office of the National Security Adviser as Deputy Coordinator, National Intelligence.

Other appointments at the Defence Headquarters include AVM I Sani as Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence; 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.

At the Defence Space Administration, AVM AA Suleh has been appointed Deputy Chief, while AVM OA Oyename becomes Director of Earth Observation and AVM SS Lazarus takes over 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.

Other appointments include AVM OF Akinboyewa as Deputy Director-General and AVM MM Omar as Director, Museum and Hall of Fame, both at the Air Power Centre of Excellence.

To strengthen other operational and administrative structures, AVM JI Ukeh has been appointed Commander of the Nigerian Air Defence Corps.

AVM GI Jibia becomes Deputy Force Commander, Operation HADIN KAI, while AVM CE Akubue has been appointed Managing Director of Aircraft Engineering and Technical Services Limited (AETSL). AVM CE Akpa also becomes Commander, Headquarters NAF Camp.

Additional appointments include AVM AY Dari as General Manager, Nigerian Air Force Investment Limited Group of Companies; AVM NS Okoro as Director-General, AFRDI; and AVM DO Dickson as General Manager, Operations, Defence Health Care Limited.

The NAF also announced appointments across its directorates, commands and training institutions, including 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.

In other appointments, AVM OA Abu becomes 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.

For professional military education, AVM SA Eyoma has been appointed 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 Chief of the Air Staff expressed confidence that the newly appointed officers would use their professional experience and competence to advance his Command Philosophy and strengthen the Air Force’s ability to deliver effective airpower support for joint operations and national security.

He said the leadership changes were part of the Service’s commitment to continuous leadership renewal, institutional accountability and improved operational effectiveness.

All affected officers are expected to assume their new positions and complete the necessary handover and takeover procedures on or before November 13, 2026.

NAF Announces Major Leadership Reshuffle, Appoints New Air Officers to Strategic Positions