The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has approved a major strategic realignment of its senior leadership through fresh postings and appointments.

In a statement on Sunday, NAF spokesperson Ehimen Ejodame said the posting was designed to strengthen command effectiveness, enhance institutional capacity and sustain operational readiness.

He also said the chief of the air staff (CAS), Sunday Aneke, approved the fresh postings and appointments on November 7, and they take immediate effect.

Mr Ejodame added that the appointments span service headquarters, operational commands, defence headquarters, training institutions and other strategic establishments.

He said the exercise reflected a deliberate effort to align leadership competencies and professional experience with the NAF’s evolving operational and institutional priorities.

Mr Ejodame explained that at NAF headquarters, Adeniran Ademuwagun was appointed Chief of Transformation and Innovation, while Ibitayo Ajiboye was appointed Superintendent of Standards and Evaluation.

Similarly, Precious Amadi was appointed chief of air intelligence; Nnamdi Ananaba, chief of operations; Ahmed Bukari, air provost marshal; Eko Efiom, chief of training; Mohammed Ibrahim, chairman of Air Expo and international liaison; and Gabriel Kehinde, chief of civil-military relations.

In the same vein, Mohammed Sulaiman was appointed chief of communications and information systems; Simon Peters, coordinator of the project implementation team; and Ayodeji Laoye, chief of aircraft engineering.

Others include Ahmed Dari, general manager, Nigerian Air Force Investment Limited Group of Companies, and Ndubuisi Okoro, director-general, Air Force Research and Development Institute (AFRDI).

Mr Ejodame said that at operational command level, NI Ilo was appointed air officer commanding (AOC), tactical air command; BR Mamman, mobility command; OS Ogunsina, logistics command; MN Onyebashi, special operations command; and FCS Nwakara, ground training command.

He also said that in major institutional appointments, PB Philips was appointed commandant of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC); MC Ekwueme, Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (AFRC); AO Akinbunwa, Air Force War College; and A Idris, Air Warfare Doctrine Centre.

”AVM JA Ekwuribe was appointed to head the Regiment Training Centre; AVM OC Ubadike, Air Force Institute of Technology; AVM AI Sambo, Nigerian Air Force College of Logistics and Management; and AVM M Yusuf, Deputy Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy.

”At a strategic defence level, AVM UK Abdullahi was appointed Director of Defence Operations at Defence Headquarters (DHQ); AVM EOE Ebiowe, Deputy Coordinator, National Intelligence, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

”AVM DDG Pwajok was appointed Director of Technical Services, Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA); AVM I Sani, Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence; and AVM AA Shinkafi, Director of Liaison, DHQ.

”AVM AO Shogbamu was appointed Director of Military Strategy; AVM RK Olanrewaju, Director of Search and Rescue; AVM J Usman, Director of Special Duties; AVM JJ Ijudigal, Director of Sports; and AVM ZA Usman, Director of Cyber Operations,” he said.

The NAF spokesman also said that EK Gabkwet was appointed Director of Civil-Military Relations, and GAA Bello, Director of Joint Warfare Doctrine, DHQ.

”AVM AA Suleh was appointed Deputy Chief of Defence Space Administration (DSA); AVM OA Oyename, Director of Earth Observation; and AVM SS Lazarus, Director of Launch Vehicles and Space Operations,” he also said.

He added that OT Salami was appointed Deputy Chief, Defence Space Command Centre (DSCC); AI Hanidu, Director of Integrated Air Power Studies, Air Power Centre of Excellence (APCOE); and OF Akinboyewa, Deputy Director-General, APCOE.

According to him, MM Omar is appointed director, Museum/Hall of Fame, APCOE, and DO Dickson as general manager, Operations, Defence Health Care Limited.

He said other appointments at headquarters included AK Famuyiwa as director of coordination and cooperation and AK Bello as director of armament.

”AVM YA Katabiya is deployed as Director of Logistics; AVM EO Ashiegbu as Director of Policy; AVM GA Mbaka, Director of Aircraft Engineering; and AVM AL Dakwat as Director of Research and Development.

”AVM SO Eyekosi is Director of Plans, and AVM AG Akinyimika is Director of Personnel Management. To further strengthen operational command structures, AVM JI Ukeh is appointed Commander, Nigerian Air Defence Corps (NADC); AVM OA Abu as Chief of Staff, Mobility Command; and AVM I Subi, Special Operations Command.

”AVM NB Folaji is head Tactical Air Command; AVM F Ekpah, Ground Training Command; AVM ES Odekina, Logistics Command; AVM M Umar, Air Training Command; and AVM GI Jibia as Deputy Force Commander, Operation HADIN KAI,” he said.

He added that CE Akubue was appointed managing director, Aircraft Engineering and Technical Services Limited (AETSL), while CE Akpa became commander, Headquarters NAF Camp.

Mr Ejodame said other professional military education and training appointments included SA Eyoma as deputy commandant, Air Force Institute of Technology; FO Ankeli as commandant, Air Traffic Services Training Centre; and U Ariahu as deputy commandant, Nigerian Air Force College of Logistics and Management.

He said the strategic realignment reflected NAF’s commitment to continuous leadership renewal, stronger institutional accountability and enhanced operational effectiveness.

He quoted the CAS as expressing confidence that the professional competence and wealth of experience of the newly appointed officers would further advance his command philosophy.

The CAS also said that it would help and strengthen the service’s capacity to deliver decisive air power effects in support of joint operations and national security objectives.

He directed all affected officers to assume their new appointments and complete necessary handover and takeover formalities not later than November 13, 2026.

(NAN)