By our Reporter
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, Service Headquarters and strategic defence establishments.
The exercise, approved by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, on November 7, 2026, is aimed at strengthening command effectiveness, improving institutional capacity and sustaining operational readiness in support of national security objectives.
The Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday, November 8.
According to the statement, the appointments cut across several strategic establishments, reflecting efforts to align the professional experience and leadership competencies of senior officers with the service’s evolving operational priorities.
At the Service Headquarters, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) AK Ademuwagun has been appointed Chief of Transformation and Innovation, while AVM NN Ananaba becomes Chief of Operations.
Other key appointments include AVM PN Amadi as Chief of Air Intelligence; AVM EE Efiom as Chief of Training; AVM MA Sulaiman as Chief of Communications and Information Systems; AVM AJ Laoye as Chief of Aircraft Engineering; and AVM AG Kehinde as Chief of Civil-Military Relations.
AVM AK Ademuwagun’s appointment as Chief of Transformation and Innovation is among the key positions expected to drive institutional reforms and operational improvements.
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.
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.
In the area of military education and institutional leadership, AVM PB Philips has been appointed Commandant of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, 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; AVM AI Sambo as Commandant, Nigerian Air Force College of Logistics and Management; and AVM M Yusuf as Deputy Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy.
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 senior appointments at the Defence Headquarters 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 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 up the position of Director of Launch Vehicles and Space Operations.
Furthermore, AVM OT Salami has been posted to the Defence Space Command Centre as Deputy Chief, while AVM AI Hanidu becomes Director of Integrated Air Power Studies at the Air Power Centre of Excellence.
Other appointments include AVM OF Akinboyewa as Deputy Director-General and AVM MM Omar as Director, Museum/Hall of Fame, both at the Air Power Centre of Excellence.
The appointments further extend to other strategic positions at Headquarters NAF, where AVM AK Famuyiwa has been appointed Director of Coordination and Cooperation; AVM AK Bello, Director of Armament; AVM YA Katabiya, Director of Logistics; AVM EO Ashiegbu, Director of Policy; AVM GA Mbaka, Director of Aircraft Engineering; AVM AL Dakwat, Director of Research and Development; AVM SO Eyekosi, Director of Plans; and AVM AG Akinyimika, Director of Personnel Management.
To strengthen operational command structures, AVM JI Ukeh has been appointed Commander of the Nigerian Air Defence Corps, while AVM GI Jibia becomes Deputy Force Commander, Operation HADIN KAI.
Other appointments include AVM CE Akubue as Managing Director, Aircraft Engineering and Technical Services Limited, and AVM CE Akpa as Commander, Headquarters NAF Camp.
In the professional military education sector, AVM SA Eyoma has been appointed Deputy Commandant, Air Force Institute of Technology; AVM FO Ankeli, Commandant, Air Traffic Services Training Centre; and AVM U Ariahu, Deputy Commandant, Nigerian Air Force College of Logistics and Management.
The statement added that 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 NAF’s capacity to deliver decisive airpower effects in support of joint operations and national security.
It said the exercise reflected the service’s commitment to leadership renewal, institutional accountability and improved operational effectiveness.
All affected officers are expected to assume their new appointments and complete the necessary handover and takeover formalities on or before November 13, 2026.
