Nigerian Air Force Redeploys Senior Officers, Appoints New Commanders

The Nigerian Air Force has approved a major shake-up of its senior leadership, involving fresh appointments and postings across its operational commands, strategic institutions, and Defence Headquarters. This exercise, approved by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, on November 7, 2026, aims to strengthen command effectiveness, enhance institutional capacity, and sustain operational readiness. The appointments cover Service Headquarters, operational commands, training institutions, and other strategic establishments.

The shake-up includes the appointment of Air Vice Marshal AK Ademuwagun as Chief of Transformation and Innovation, while AVM IV Ajiboye became 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 AJ Laoye as Chief of Aircraft Engineering. These appointments reflect a deliberate effort to align leadership competencies and professional experience with the Service's evolving operational and institutional priorities.

The Air Force has also appointed new Air Officer Commanding for various commands, including AVM NI Ilo as Air Officer Commanding, Tactical Air Command; AVM BR Mamman as AOC, Mobility Command; AVM OS Ogunsina as AOC, Logistics Command; AVM MN Onyebashi as AOC, Special Operations Command; and AVM FCS Nwakara as AOC, Ground Training Command. Additionally, AVM PB Philips was appointed Commandant of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, while AVM MC Ekwueme became Commandant of the Armed Forces Resettlement Centre.

At the institutional level, AVM AO Akinbunwa was appointed Commandant of the Air Force War College, while AVM OC Ubadike became Commandant of the Air Force Institute of Technology. Other appointments include 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. These appointments are part of efforts to strengthen leadership renewal, institutional accountability, and operational effectiveness across the service.

The appointments also affected the Defence Headquarters, where AVM UK Abdullahi was appointed Director of Defence Operations, while AVM EOE Ebiowe was posted to the Office of the National Security Adviser as Deputy Coordinator, National Intelligence. AVM DDG Pwajok was appointed Director of Technical Services at the Defence Intelligence Agency, while AVM I Sani became Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence.

Furthermore, the Defence Space Administration saw new appointments, including AVM AA Suleh as Deputy Chief, while AVM OA Oyename and AVM SS Lazarus were appointed Directors of Earth Observation and Launch Vehicles and Space Operations, respectively. AVM GI Jibia was appointed Deputy Force Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, while AVM JI Ukeh became Commander of the Nigerian Air Defence Corps.

According to the Chief of the Air Staff, the professional competence and wealth of experience of the newly appointed officers would advance his command philosophy and strengthen the Air Force'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 on or before November 13, 2026.

Key points

• The Nigerian Air Force has undertaken a major leadership shake-up with fresh appointments and postings across its operational commands, strategic institutions, and Defence Headquarters.
• The appointments aim to strengthen command effectiveness, enhance institutional capacity, and sustain operational readiness.
• The new appointees are expected to assume their new roles and complete handover formalities by November 13, 2026.