President Bola Tinubu appoints new Service Chiefs, including Major General Shaibu as Army Chief, in a sweeping military reshuffle following coup allegations.
Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has carried out a sweeping overhaul of Nigeria’s military leadership, appointing new Service Chiefs just weeks after authorities foiled a reported coup plot involving senior army officers.
In a statement released Thursday October 24, 2025, the Presidency confirmed the appointment of General Olufemi Oluyede as the new Chief of Defense Staff, succeeding General Christopher Musa. The changes also see Major General W. Shaibu named Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke taking over as Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral I. Abbas assuming office as Chief of Naval Staff.
Major General E.A.P. Undiendeye will continue as Chief of Defense Intelligence, maintaining continuity within the Intelligence Command.
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President Tinubu described the reshuffle as a necessary step to “strengthen the nation’s security architecture” and align the Armed Forces with his administration’s strategic vision for defense reform. He commended the outgoing Service Chiefs for their “patriotic service and dedicated leadership,” noting their roles in preserving national stability during a period of complex security challenges.
“The new leadership must enhance professionalism, vigilance, and the comradeship that define the Armed Forces of Nigeria,” Tinubu said in his statement, urging the newly appointed commanders to build on existing gains in counter-insurgency and internal security operations.
The announcement comes amid heightened security concerns in Abuja and other major cities, following the arrest of at least 20 soldiers, including a Brigadier-General, over an alleged plot to overthrow the government. Military authorities say investigations into the coup attempt are ongoing, and several of the detained officers remain under interrogation.
Political analysts view the timing of the reshuffle as both strategic and symbolic — signaling Tinubu’s determination to reassert control over the armed forces and restore confidence in the military chain of command.
The President’s latest appointments mark the second major reorganization of Nigeria’s top security hierarchy since he took office, underscoring his administration’s focus on reforming defense leadership amid persistent threats from insurgents, separatists, and organized crime networks.
The newly appointed Service Chiefs are expected to assume office immediately.
Africa Daily News, New York
