NAF Announces Major Leadership Shake-Up, Appoints New Air Officers Commanding

By Zainab Uzomah

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has approved a major leadership realignment involving the posting and appointment of senior officers to key positions across its operational commands, training institutions and strategic establishments.

In a statement signed by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, approved the appointments on November 7, 2026, with effect from November.

The exercise is aimed at strengthening command effectiveness, improving institutional capacity and sustaining operational readiness in support of national security objectives.

Under the new appointments, AVM AK Ademuwagun becomes Chief of Transformation and Innovation, while AVM NN Ananaba is appointed Chief of Operations and AVM PN Amadi takes over as Chief of Air Intelligence at NAF Headquarters.

Other key appointments at the headquarters include AVM EE Efiom as Chief of Training, AVM AH Bakari as Air Provost Marshal, AVM AJ Laoye as Chief of Aircraft Engineering and AVM MA Sulaiman as Chief of Communications and Information Systems.

At the operational command level, AVM NI Ilo has been appointed Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Tactical Air Command, while AVM BR Mamman becomes AOC, Mobility Command.

AVM OS Ogunsina is appointed AOC, Logistics Command; AVM MN Onyebashi takes over as AOC, Special Operations Command, while AVM FCS Nwakara becomes AOC, Ground Training Command.

In the area of military education and training, AVM PB Philips has been appointed Commandant of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), while AVM MC Ekwueme becomes Commandant of the Armed Forces Resettlement Centre.

Other appointments include AVM AO Akinbunwa as Commandant, Air Force War College; AVM A Idris as Commandant, Air Warfare Doctrine Centre; AVM OC Ubadike as Commandant, Air Force Institute of Technology; and AVM AI Sambo as Commandant, Nigerian Air Force College of Logistics and Management.

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.

Also, AVM DDG Pwajok becomes Director of Technical Services at the Defence Intelligence Agency, while AVM I Sani is appointed Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence.

Other appointments at the Defence Headquarters include AVM AO Shogbamu as Director of Military Strategy, 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 realignment also affects the Defence Space Administration, where AVM AA Suleh has been appointed Deputy Chief, while AVM OA Oyename becomes Director of Earth Observation and AVM SS Lazarus takes over as Director of Launch Vehicles and Space Operations.

In another appointment, AVM JI Ukeh has been named Commander of the Nigerian Air Defence Corps, while AVM GI Jibia becomes Deputy Force Commander of Operation HADIN KAI.

The statement said the appointments reflect the Air Force’s commitment to leadership renewal, institutional accountability and improved operational effectiveness.

Aneke expressed confidence that the experience and professional competence of the newly appointed officers would advance his command philosophy and strengthen the service’s capacity to deliver effective airpower in support of joint operations and national security.

All affected officers are expected to assume their new positions and complete handover and takeover formalities on or before November 13, 2026.