NAF Announces Major Leadership Shake-Up, Reassigns Senior Air Vice Marshals

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced a major reshuffle of its senior leadership, involving new appointments and postings across its operational commands, service headquarters, military training institutions and strategic defence establishments.

The exercise, approved by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, on November 7, 2026, is part of efforts to strengthen command effectiveness, improve institutional capacity and sustain operational readiness in support of national security objectives. The new appointments take effect in November.

In a statement issued on November 8 by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the Air Force said the exercise was designed to align the professional experience and competencies of senior officers with the Service’s operational and institutional priorities.

At Headquarters NAF, several officers have been assigned key responsibilities. They include AVM AK Ademuwagun as Chief of Transformation and Innovation; AVM IV Ajiboye as Superintendent of Standards and Evaluation; AVM PN Amadi as Chief of Air Intelligence; AVM NN Ananaba as Chief of Operations; AVM AH Bakari as Air Provost Marshal; and AVM EE Efiom as Chief of Training.

Others are AVM MS Ibrahim, Chairman, Air Expo and International Liaison; AVM AG Kehinde, Chief of Civil-Military Relations; AVM MA Sulaiman, Chief of Communications and Information Systems; AVM S Peters, Coordinator, Project Implementation Team; and AVM AJ Laoye, Chief of Aircraft Engineering.

The appointments also include AVM AY Dari as General Manager of the Nigerian Air Force Investment Limited Group of Companies and AVM NS Okoro as Director-General of AFRDI.

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.

AVM OS Ogunsina becomes AOC, Logistics Command; AVM MN Onyebashi is appointed AOC, Special Operations Command; and AVM FCS Nwakara takes over as AOC, Ground Training Command.

Several senior officers have also been posted to military training and professional development institutions.

AVM PB Philips has been appointed Commandant of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, while AVM MC Ekwueme becomes Commandant of the Armed Forces Resettlement Centre.

Other appointments include AVM AO Akinbunwa as Commandant of the Air Force War College; AVM A Idris as Commandant of the Air Warfare Doctrine Centre; AVM JA Ekwuribe as Commandant of the Regiment Training Centre; AVM OC Ubadike as Commandant of the Air Force Institute of Technology; AVM AI Sambo as Commandant of the Nigerian Air Force College of Logistics and Management; and AVM M Yusuf as Deputy Commandant of the 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 strategic defence level include AVM DDG Pwajok as Director of Technical Services at the Defence Intelligence Agency; AVM I Sani as Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence; AVM AA Shinkafi as Director of Liaison; and AVM AO Shogbamu as Director of Military Strategy.

Also appointed to various directorates at Defence Headquarters are 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.

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 charge as Director of Launch Vehicles and Space Operations.

AVM OT Salami has also 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/Hall of Fame. AVM DO Dickson has been appointed General Manager, Operations, Defence Health Care Limited.

Additional 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.

The Air Force also announced appointments aimed at strengthening its operational command structures.

AVM JI Ukeh has been appointed Commander of the Nigerian Air Defence Corps, while AVM OA Abu becomes Chief of Staff, Mobility Command; AVM I Subi, Chief of Staff, Special Operations Command; AVM NB Folaji, Chief of Staff, Tactical Air Command; AVM F Ekpah, Chief of Staff, Ground Training Command; AVM ES Odekina, Chief of Staff, Logistics Command; and AVM M Umar, Chief of Staff, Air Training Command.

AVM GI Jibia has been appointed Deputy Force Commander of Operation HADIN KAI.

In other postings, 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 latest exercise also covers professional military education and training establishments. AVM SA Eyoma has been appointed Deputy Commandant of the Air Force Institute of Technology; AVM FO Ankeli, Commandant of the Air Traffic Services Training Centre; and AVM U Ariahu, Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Air Force College of Logistics and Management.

The Chief of the Air Staff expressed confidence that the newly appointed officers would deploy their professional competence and experience to advance his Command Philosophy and strengthen the Air Force’s capacity to deliver airpower support for joint military operations and national security.

The affected officers have been directed to assume their new responsibilities and complete all handover and takeover formalities on or before November 13, 2026.

The statement was signed by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force.