The Nigerian Air Force has redeployed 41 Air Vice Marshals in a major leadership shake-up, appointing new commanders, service chiefs and heads of military institutions as part of efforts to strengthen operational effectiveness and improve national security operations.
The exercise, approved by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, on November 7, 2026, affects the Service Headquarters, operational commands, Defence Headquarters, military training institutions and other strategic establishments.
The Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, announced the appointments in a statement on Sunday, November 8.
He said the exercise was designed to align the professional competencies and experience of senior officers with the service’s evolving operational and institutional requirements.
At the NAF Headquarters, Air Vice Marshal AK Ademuwagun was appointed Chief of Transformation and Innovation, while AVM IV Ajiboye became Superintendent of Standards and Evaluation.
Other appointments include AVM PN Amadi as Chief of Air Intelligence, AVM NN Ananaba as Chief of Operations, AVM AH Bakari as Air Provost Marshal, AVM EE Efiom as Chief of Training and AVM AJ Laoye as Chief of Aircraft Engineering.
The shake-up also affects the service’s operational commands, with AVM NI Ilo appointed 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 was named Commandant of the Air Force War College, while AVM OC Ubadike became Commandant of the Air Force Institute of Technology.
Other appointments include AVM AI Sambo as Commandant of the Nigerian Air Force College of Logistics and Management and AVM M Yusuf as Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
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.
AVM DDG Pwajok was appointed Director of Technical Services at the Defence Intelligence Agency, while AVM I Sani became Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence.
The Defence Space Administration also witnessed changes, 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 another operational appointment, AVM GI Jibia was named Deputy Force Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, while AVM JI Ukeh became Commander of the Nigerian Air Defence Corps.
The appointments are part of efforts to promote leadership renewal, institutional accountability and operational readiness across the Nigerian Air Force.
Aneke expressed confidence that the professional competence and experience of the newly appointed officers would advance his command philosophy and strengthen the Air Force’s capacity to deliver effective airpower in support of joint military 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.
