The Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy has released comprehensive profiles of Nigeria’s Service Chiefs — the nation’s top military commanders at the helm of the Armed Forces. The publication sheds light on the men tasked with reshaping the country’s defence architecture amid renewed security challenges and ongoing military reforms.

 

Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede — Chief of Defence Staff

 

A seasoned Infantry officer from Ekiti State, Lieutenant General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede (N/9318) was born on June 21, 1968, and commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1992. A member of the 39 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), he has commanded major operations across Nigeria’s conflict zones.

 

He served as Commander 27 Task Force Brigade, Commander Sector 2 of Operation HADIN KAI, and General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Port Harcourt. Since assuming office in 2024, Oluyede has introduced reforms focusing on troop welfare, professionalism, and infrastructure expansion — including the establishment of a second Army Depot in Osogbo.

 

An alumnus of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (mni), he holds degrees in Economics and has received several military decorations, including the Grand Service Star and Corps Medal of Honour.

Maj. Gen. Waidi Shaibu — Chief of Army Staff

 

Major General Waidi Shaibu (N/9895), born December 18, 1971, in Kogi State, joined the Army Armour Corps in 1994. Known for his tactical brilliance, Shaibu has held key commands such as General Officer Commanding 7 Division and Theatre Commander of Operation HADIN KAI in the North-East.

 

An alumnus of the National Defence University, Washington D.C., and the University of Ibadan, Shaibu holds Master’s degrees in Strategic and Security Studies. His operational medals include the Distinguished Service Star and the Field Command Medal.

 

Rear Admiral Idi Abbas — Chief of Naval Staff

 

Rear Admiral Idi Abbas (NN/1739), born September 20, 1969, in Kano State, joined the Navy in 1992. A maritime strategist, he has commanded operations in the Gulf of Guinea and served as Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command, Yenagoa.

 

Abbas is credited with leading anti-piracy missions and curbing illegal oil bunkering activities. He is currently driving the Navy’s modernization efforts and strengthening inter-agency maritime coordination.

Air Vice Marshal Sunday Aneke — Chief of Air Staff

 

Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke (NAF/2182) was born February 20, 1972, in Makurdi, Benue State, and hails from Enugu State. A member of the 40th Regular Combatant Course, he is one of the Nigerian Air Force’s most experienced pilots, with over 4,300 flight hours logged.

 

AVM Aneke holds multiple Master’s degrees and has trained at the prestigious U.S. Air War College. He has served as Commander of the Presidential Air Fleet, Deputy Commandant of the NDA, and Director of Policy at NAF Headquarters. Currently, he oversees the Mobility Command in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye — Chief of Defence Intelligence

 

Major General Emmanuel Akomaye Parker Undiandeye (N/9563) hails from Obudu, Cross River State. A product of the Nigerian Defence Academy and the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, he is an expert in military intelligence and strategic studies.

 

He has served as Chief of Staff, Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps, and Director of Psychological Warfare. Internationally, he has represented Nigeria in various UN peacekeeping missions and held posts at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Defence Leadership for a New Era

 

The profiles, according to the Presidency, are intended to provide Nigerians with insight into the experience, education, and leadership ethos of the country’s defence commanders.

 

Presidential aides say the Service Chiefs’ combined focus is to rebuild morale across the ranks, modernize equipment, and coordinate a unified response to insurgency, banditry, and maritime insecurity.

 

“These officers represent the face of a renewed and re-energized Armed Forces — disciplined, reform-driven, and people-focused,” a statement from the Office of the Special Adviser read.

 

The new defence team is expected to continue implementing the administration’s military reform agenda aimed at enhancing professionalism, inter-agency collaboration, and national security stability.

At a Glance – Nigeria’s Defence Command Structure

• Chief of Defence Staff: Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede

• Chief of Army Staff: Maj. Gen. Waidi Shaibu

• Chief of Naval Staff: Rear Adm. Idi Abbas

• Chief of Air Staff: AVM Sunday Aneke

• Chief of Defence Intelligence: Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye