JUST IN: Air Force reshuffles leadership, appoints new command heads

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced a major shake-up in its senior leadership, with several officers redeployed and new commanders appointed across its operational commands, strategic institutions and the Defence Headquarters.

The exercise, approved by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, on November 7, 2026, covered the Service Headquarters, operational commands, training institutions and other strategic establishments, according to a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame.

At the Air Force Headquarters, Air Vice Marshal AK Ademuwagun was appointed Chief of Transformation and Innovation, while AVM PN Amadi became Chief of Air Intelligence, AVM NN Ananaba Chief of Operations, AVM AH Bakari Air Provost Marshal, AVM EE Efiom Chief of Training and AVM AJ Laoye Chief of Aircraft Engineering.

Other appointments include AVM NI Ilo as Air Officer Commanding, Tactical Air Command; AVM BR Mamman, Mobility Command; AVM OS Ogunsina, Logistics Command; AVM MN Onyebashi, Special Operations Command; and AVM FCS Nwakara, Ground Training Command.

At the institutional level, 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. AVM AO Akinbunwa and AVM OC Ubadike were appointed commandants of the Air Force War College and Air Force Institute of Technology, respectively.

At the Defence Headquarters, 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. Other officers were assigned to strategic positions at the Defence Intelligence Agency, Defence Space Administration and various directorates of the Defence Headquarters.

The appointments also include AVM GI Jibia as Deputy Force Commander of Operation Hadin Kai and AVM JI Ukeh as Commander of the Nigerian Air Defence Corps.

Aneke said the exercise would strengthen the service’s operational capacity, adding that all affected officers must complete their handover and takeover formalities on or before November 13, 2026.