The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced a major shake-up of its senior leadership, with Air Vice Marshals reassigned to key operational commands, Defence Headquarters, intelligence agencies, military institutions and strategic establishments.
The sweeping appointments, approved on November 7, 2026, by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, are aimed at strengthening command effectiveness, improving institutional capacity and sustaining operational readiness.
In a statement issued on Sunday, November 8, the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the exercise was designed to align officers’ professional experience and leadership competencies with the Air Force’s evolving operational and institutional priorities.
The new appointments affect virtually every major segment of the Service, including Service Headquarters, operational commands, professional military education institutions and strategic defence organisations.
Among the major changes, AVM NI Ilo has been appointed Air Officer Commanding, Tactical Air Command, while AVM BR Mamman takes over Mobility Command. AVM OS Ogunsina becomes Air Officer Commanding, Logistics Command; AVM MN Onyebashi takes charge of Special Operations Command; and AVM FCS Nwakara becomes Air Officer Commanding, Ground Training Command.
At Headquarters NAF, AVM AK Ademuwagun has been appointed Chief of Transformation and Innovation; AVM IV Ajiboye, Superintendent of Standards and Evaluation; AVM PN Amadi, Chief of Air Intelligence; and AVM NN Ananaba, Chief of Operations.
Other senior appointments include AVM AH Bakari as Air Provost Marshal; AVM EE Efiom as Chief of Training; AVM MS Ibrahim as Chairman, Air Expo and International Liaison; 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.
The reshuffle also affects the wider defence establishment. AVM UK Abdullahi has been appointed Director of Defence Operations at Defence Headquarters, while AVM EOE Ebiowe moves to the Office of the National Security Adviser as Deputy Coordinator, National Intelligence.
At the Defence Intelligence Agency, AVM DDG Pwajok becomes Director of Technical Services, while AVM I Sani has been appointed Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence.
Other appointments at Defence Headquarters 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 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 Service has also announced several appointments across military training institutions. AVM PB Philips becomes Commandant of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, while AVM MC Ekwueme takes over as Commandant of the Armed Forces Resettlement Centre.
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; 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, while AVM SA Eyoma becomes Deputy Commandant of the Air Force Institute of Technology. AVM FO Ankeli has been named Commandant of the Air Traffic Services Training Centre, and AVM U Ariahu becomes Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Air Force College of Logistics and Management.
Within 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 up the position of Director of Launch Vehicles and Space Operations.
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 at the centre include AVM OF Akinboyewa as Deputy Director-General and AVM MM Omar as Director of Museum and Hall of Fame.
The appointments further include AVM JI Ukeh as Commander of the Nigerian Air Defence Corps; AVM GI Jibia as Deputy Force Commander, Operation HADIN KAI; AVM CE Akubue as Managing Director of Aircraft Engineering and Technical Services Limited; and AVM CE Akpa as Commander, Headquarters NAF Camp.
Additional postings cover logistics, engineering, armament, research and development, personnel management, civil-military relations and other administrative responsibilities across the Air Force.
The NAF said the exercise reflected its commitment to leadership renewal, institutional accountability and improved operational effectiveness.
Air Marshal Aneke expressed confidence that the experience and professional competence of the newly appointed officers would advance his command philosophy and strengthen the Service’s capacity to support 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 not later than November 13, 2026.
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