Air Marshal Aneke Approves Fresh NAF Postings, Redeploys Senior Officers Across Commands, Defence Headquarters
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has approved a fresh round of senior officers’ appointments and postings in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), in a strategic move aimed at improving operational readiness, strengthening leadership capacity and enhancing the Service’s contribution to national security.
The leadership realignment was approved on November 7, 2026, and affects several departments at Headquarters NAF, operational commands, military training institutions, Defence Headquarters and other strategic national security establishments.
Under the new arrangement, AVM NI Ilo will serve as Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Tactical Air Command, while AVM BR Mamman has been appointed AOC, Mobility Command.
AVM OS Ogunsina takes charge of Logistics Command, AVM MN Onyebashi has been appointed AOC, Special Operations Command, while AVM FCS Nwakara becomes AOC, Ground Training Command.
At the Service Headquarters, AVM NN Ananaba has been appointed Chief of Operations, while AVM PN Amadi becomes Chief of Air Intelligence.
Other senior appointments include AVM AK Ademuwagun as Chief of Transformation and Innovation; AVM IV Ajiboye as Superintendent of Standards and Evaluation; AVM AH Bakari as Air Provost Marshal; AVM EE Efiom as Chief of Training; and AVM AJ Laoye as Chief of Aircraft Engineering.
AVM AG Kehinde will serve as Chief of Civil-Military Relations, while AVM MA Sulaiman becomes Chief of Communications and Information Systems. AVM MS Ibrahim has also been appointed Chairman, Air Expo and International Liaison.
In the area of military education and professional development, AVM PB Philips has been appointed Commandant of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, while AVM MC Ekwueme becomes Commandant of the Armed Forces Resettlement Centre.
The Air Force War College, Air Warfare Doctrine Centre, Regiment Training Centre and Air Force Institute of Technology will also have new leadership, with AVM AO Akinbunwa, AVM A Idris, AVM JA Ekwuribe and AVM OC Ubadike appointed as their respective commandants.
Similarly, AVM AI Sambo has been appointed Commandant of the Nigerian Air Force College of Logistics and Management, while AVM M Yusuf becomes Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
At the Defence Headquarters, AVM UK Abdullahi has been appointed Director of Defence Operations, while AVM EOE Ebiowe moves to the Office of the National Security Adviser as Deputy Coordinator, National Intelligence.
The Defence Intelligence Agency will have AVM DDG Pwajok as Director of Technical Services, while AVM I Sani has been appointed Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence.
Other officers posted to strategic positions at Defence Headquarters include AVM AA Shinkafi as Director of Liaison; AVM AO Shogbamu as Director of Military Strategy; AVM RK Olanrewaju as Director of Search and Rescue; AVM J Usman as Director of Special Duties; AVM JJ Ijudigal as Director of Sports; AVM ZA Usman as Director of Cyber Operations; AVM EK Gabkwet as Director of Civil-Military Relations; and AVM GAA Bello as Director of Joint Warfare Doctrine.
The Defence Space Administration also features prominently in the exercise, with AVM AA Suleh appointed Deputy Chief, AVM OA Oyename named Director of Earth Observation, and AVM SS Lazarus appointed Director of Launch Vehicles and Space Operations.
In addition, 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.
Other appointments at the Air Power Centre of Excellence include AVM OF Akinboyewa as Deputy Director-General and AVM MM Omar as Director, Museum/Hall of Fame.
The realignment further affects several other NAF departments and establishments. AVM AY Dari has been appointed General Manager of the Nigerian Air Force Investment Limited Group of Companies, while AVM NS Okoro becomes Director-General of the Air Force Research and Development Institute (AFRDI).
AVM DO Dickson has also been appointed General Manager, Operations, Defence Health Care Limited.
To strengthen command coordination, AVM JI Ukeh has been appointed Commander of the Nigerian Air Defence Corps.
Other command appointments include AVM OA Abu as Chief of Staff, Mobility Command; AVM I Subi as Chief of Staff, Special Operations Command; AVM NB Folaji as Chief of Staff, Tactical Air Command; AVM F Ekpah as Chief of Staff, Ground Training Command; AVM ES Odekina as Chief of Staff, Logistics Command; and AVM M Umar as Chief of Staff, Air Training Command.
Meanwhile, AVM GI Jibia has been appointed Deputy Force Commander of Operation HADIN KAI.
The exercise also includes appointments in aviation engineering and technical services, with AVM CE Akubue named Managing Director of Aircraft Engineering and Technical Services Limited, while AVM CE Akpa becomes Commander, Headquarters NAF Camp.
Additional appointments include AVM SA Eyoma as Deputy Commandant, Air Force Institute of Technology; AVM FO Ankeli as Commandant, Air Traffic Services Training Centre; and AVM U Ariahu as Deputy Commandant, Nigerian Air Force College of Logistics and Management.
According to the Nigerian Air Force, the leadership changes are part of efforts to promote institutional accountability, renew leadership and improve operational effectiveness.
Air Marshal Aneke expressed confidence in the ability of the newly appointed officers to bring their wealth of professional experience to bear in their respective assignments.
All affected officers are expected to report to their new positions and conclude handover and takeover procedures not later than November 13, 2026.
