Get Guardian on GoogleThe Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has redeployed 41 Air Vice Marshals (AVMs) in a major leadership shake-up affecting its Service Headquarters, operational commands, Defence Headquarters (DHQ), military training institutions and other strategic establishments.
The exercise, approved by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, is aimed at strengthening command effectiveness, enhancing institutional capacity and sustaining operational readiness in support of national security objectives.
The Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, who announced the redeployment in a statement on Sunday, said the appointments were designed to align leadership competencies and professional experience with the service’s evolving operational and institutional priorities.
He said: “The appointments span Service Headquarters, operational commands, Defence Headquarters, training institutions and other strategic establishments, reflecting a deliberate effort to align leadership competencies and professional experience with the Service’s evolving operational and institutional priorities.”
At the operational command level, AVM NI Ilo has been appointed Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Tactical Air Command, while AVM BR Mamman takes over as AOC, Mobility Command.
Similarly, AVM OS Ogunsina has been appointed AOC, Logistics Command; AVM MN Onyebashi, AOC, Special Operations Command; and AVM FCS Nwakara, AOC, Ground Training Command.
At the NAF Headquarters, AVM AK Ademuwagun becomes Chief of Transformation and Innovation, while AVM IV Ajiboye has been appointed 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; AVM MS Ibrahim as Chairman, Air Expo and International Liaison; and AVM AG Kehinde as Chief of Civil-Military Relations.
AVM MA Sulaiman was appointed Chief of Communications and Information Systems, while AVM AJ Laoye becomes Chief of Aircraft Engineering.
The shake-up also affects military training institutions, with AVM PB Philips 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 in the category include AVM AO Akinbunwa as Commandant, Air Force War College; AVM A Idris as Commandant, Air Warfare Doctrine Centre; AVM JA Ekwuribe as Commandant, Regiment Training 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.
Other appointments at the DHQ include AVM I Sani as Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence; 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 redeployment also extends to the Defence Space Administration, where AVM AA Suleh becomes Deputy Chief, while AVM OA Oyename and AVM SS Lazarus have been appointed Directors of Earth Observation and Launch Vehicles and Space Operations respectively.
In another appointment, AVM JI Ukeh becomes Commander of the Nigerian Air Defence Corps, while AVM GI Jibia has been named Deputy Force Commander, Operation HADIN KAI.
The Chief of the Air Staff expressed confidence that the newly appointed officers would deploy their professional competence and wealth of experience to advance his command philosophy and strengthen the service’s capacity to support joint military operations.
The NAF said the realignment underscored its commitment to leadership renewal, stronger institutional accountability and improved operational effectiveness.
All affected officers are expected to assume their new appointments and complete handover and takeover formalities not later than November 13, 2026.
