President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced the immediate replacement of his Service Chiefs, a move the Presidency says is designed to “strengthen the national security architecture.” The announcement, which came late Friday afternoon, saw the removal of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and the heads of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The shake-up marks the second major restructuring of the military’s top brass since President Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, underscoring his administration’s pressure to decisively tackle Nigeria’s myriad security crises.
The key appointments, effective immediately, were contained in a statement posted on the presidency official X (twitter) handle.
- Chief of Defence Staff (CDS): General Olufemi Oluyede (Promoted from Chief of Army Staff) replaces General Christopher Musa
- Chief of Army Staff (COAS): Major-General W. Shaibu replaces General Olufemi Oluyede (who was elevated to CDS)
- Chief of Air Staff (CAS): Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke replaces Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar
- Chief of Naval Staff (CNS): Rear Admiral I. Abbas replaces Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla
- Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI): Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye (Retained his position)
General Oluyede, a seasoned officer from the Nigerian Army’s 39th Regular Course, was only appointed Chief of Army Staff in late 2024. His swift elevation to the overall command of the armed forces highlights the President’s confidence in his operational experience, which spans key engagements including counter-insurgency in the North-East and international deployments.
The change of guard comes against a backdrop of public dissatisfaction and calls from various civil society and regional groups for more decisive action on security. While the outgoing Service Chiefs, led by General Musa, recorded some successes against Boko Haram, ISWAP, and armed bandit groups, large-scale violence—including mass abductions and high-casualty attacks—have continued to plague the North-West, North-Central, and parts of the South-East.
Security experts and political analysts have long argued that a sustained solution requires a cohesive strategy and new leadership capable of tackling the deep-rooted systemic issues within the security architecture.
The timing of the shake-up has sparked significant public and media speculation, as it follows unconfirmed reports in the media last week of an alleged internal investigation by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) into suspected disloyalty among certain senior military officers.
Although the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) officially denied the reports of a “coup scare,” describing the arrests as “routine internal disciplinary actions,” the mass sack of the Service Chiefs just days later has intensified rumours of internal friction and suspicion within the military establishment.
The Presidency’s statement, however, did not allude to any internal crisis, maintaining that the decision was solely to “strengthen” national security.
President Tinubu extended his “most profound appreciation” to the outgoing Service Chiefs for their “patriotic service and dedicated leadership,” while charging the newly appointed heads to “justify the confidence reposed in them” by further enhancing the “professionalism, vigilance, and comradeship that define the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”
The new Service Chiefs are expected to immediately commence operations, facing the colossal task of delivering a tangible and sustained reduction in violence across the country. Their first order of business will likely involve strategic re-organisation, troop re-deployment, and a review of existing counter-terrorism and counter-banditry strategies. The appointments will be subject to confirmation by the Senate upon its resumption.
