The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has approved a major reshuffle of its senior leadership, involving new appointments and postings across 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 aimed at strengthening command effectiveness, improving institutional capacity and sustaining operational readiness in support of national security objectives.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the appointments would take effect in November 2026.
Under the new arrangement, AVM NI Ilo has been appointed Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Tactical Air Command, while AVM BR Mamman becomes AOC, Mobility Command.
Others are AVM OS Ogunsina, AOC, Logistics Command; AVM MN Onyebashi, AOC, Special Operations Command; and AVM FCS Nwakara, AOC, Ground Training Command.
At the NAF Headquarters, 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 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.
In the area of professional military education and institutional development, 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.
AVM AO Akinbunwa was appointed Commandant, Air Force War College; AVM A Idris, Commandant, Air Warfare Doctrine Centre; AVM JA Ekwuribe, Commandant, Regiment Training Centre; AVM OC Ubadike, Commandant, Air Force Institute of Technology; and AVM AI Sambo, Commandant, Nigerian Air Force College of Logistics and Management.
Also, AVM M Yusuf becomes Deputy Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy, while AVM SA Eyoma has been appointed Deputy Commandant, Air Force Institute of Technology.
At the strategic defence level, 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.
Other appointments at Defence Headquarters include AVM DDG Pwajok as Director of Technical Services, Defence Intelligence Agency; AVM I Sani as Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence; AVM AA Shinkafi as Director of Liaison; AVM AO Shogbamu as Director of Military Strategy; and AVM RK Olanrewaju as Director of Search and Rescue.
AVM J Usman becomes Director of Special Duties; AVM JJ Ijudigal, Director of Sports; AVM ZA Usman, Director of Cyber Operations; AVM EK Gabkwet, Director of Civil-Military Relations; and AVM GAA Bello, Director of Joint Warfare Doctrine.
The Defence Space Administration also recorded new appointments, with AVM AA Suleh named 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.
To strengthen operational command structures, AVM JI Ukeh has been appointed Commander, Nigerian Air Defence Corps.
Other appointments include AVM OA Abu as 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 also been appointed Deputy Force Commander, Operation HADIN KAI.
In other appointments, AVM CE Akubue becomes Managing Director, Aircraft Engineering and Technical Services Limited, while AVM CE Akpa has been appointed Commander, Headquarters NAF Camp.
The Air Force said the leadership realignment reflected its commitment to continuous leadership renewal, institutional accountability and improved operational effectiveness.
According to the statement, the Chief of the Air Staff expressed confidence that the professional competence and 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 positions and complete handover and takeover formalities on or before November 13, 2026.
