The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has approved a major strategic leadership realignment involving the posting and appointment of senior officers to key command, operational, training and strategic positions across the Service and other defence 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, enhancing institutional capacity and sustaining operational readiness in support of national security objectives.
The Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, disclosed this in a press statement on Sunday, November 8, 2026.
Under the new appointments, AVM AK Ademuwagun has been appointed Chief of Transformation and Innovation at Headquarters NAF, while AVM IV Ajiboye becomes Superintendent of Standards and Evaluation.
Other key appointments at Headquarters NAF include AVM PN Amadi as Chief of Air Intelligence; AVM NN Ananaba as Chief of Operations; AVM EE Efiom as Chief of Training; AVM AH Bakari as Air Provost Marshal; and AVM AJ Laoye as Chief of Aircraft Engineering.
In the operational commands, AVM NI Ilo has been appointed Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Tactical Air Command, while AVM BR Mamman assumes leadership of Mobility Command.
Similarly, AVM OS Ogunsina becomes AOC, Logistics Command; AVM MN Onyebashi takes over as AOC, Special Operations Command; and AVM FCS Nwakara has been appointed AOC, Ground Training Command.
The realignment also affects key military training institutions, with AVM PB Philips 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.
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.
Also appointed to strategic defence positions are AVM DDG Pwajok as Director of Technical Services, Defence Intelligence Agency; AVM I Sani as Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence; and AVM AA Shinkafi as Director of Liaison at Defence Headquarters.
Other appointments at the Defence Headquarters include AVM AO Shogbamu as Director of Military Strategy; AVM RK Olanrewaju as Director of Search and Rescue; 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.
In 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.
The NAF also appointed AVM OT Salami as Deputy Chief of the Defence Space Command Centre, while AVM AI Hanidu moves to the Air Power Centre of Excellence as Director of Integrated Air Power Studies.
Further strengthening its operational command structure, AVM JI Ukeh has been appointed Commander of the Nigerian Air Defence Corps.
AVM GI Jibia has also been appointed Deputy Force Commander of Operation HADIN KAI, while other officers have been posted as chiefs of staff across the NAF’s various operational and logistics commands.
In the professional military education sector, AVM SA Eyoma becomes Deputy Commandant of the Air Force Institute of Technology, while AVM FO Ankeli has been appointed Commandant of the Air Traffic Services Training Centre.
The appointments also include new leadership for NAF-related organisations, with AVM CE Akubue appointed Managing Director of Aircraft Engineering and Technical Services Limited, while AVM DO Dickson becomes General Manager, Operations, Defence Health Care Limited.
According to the statement, the strategic realignment reflects the NAF’s commitment to leadership renewal, institutional accountability and improved operational effectiveness.
Air Marshal Aneke expressed confidence that the professional competence and wealth of experience of the newly appointed officers would advance his Command Philosophy and strengthen the Service’s capacity to deliver decisive airpower effects in support of joint operations and national security objectives.
All affected officers are expected to assume their new appointments and complete the necessary handover and takeover formalities not later than November 13, 2026.
