The President on Friday appointed Lt . General Olufemi Oluyede as new Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Major General Waidi Shaibu as the new Chief of Army Staff, Rear Admiral S.K. Abba as the Chief of Naval Staff and Air Vice Marshall S.K.Aneke as Chief of the Air Staff.
Sleeknews here gives a brief biography of the new service chiefs who by their military status are all top senior military officers.
General Olufemi Oluyede who was elevated to the post of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) was first appointed last year as Chief of the Army Staff, after the death of his predecessor Lt.General Lagbaja in November 2024.
He began his military career in 1992 and has commanded Infantry Corps and other elite units, with extensive peacekeeping experience. His exploits against the insurgents and criminals has been commendable in the last one year.
The new Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Major-General Waidi Shuaibu is a highly experienced officer from the Nigerian Army Armoured Corps and a shining and rugged product of the 41 Regular Combatant Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
His appointment followed the replacement of the previous Chief of Army Staff and coincided with other changes in the service chiefs aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s national security architecture .
Further details about his early life or complete career history are not extensively covered here , but his excellent performance as Commander Operation HADIN KAI in the North East is well known.Under his leadership, Nigerian forces conducted successful clearance operations in Sambisa Forest and the Tumbuktu Triangle
Under his command troops operations resulted in the neutralization of over 567 terrorists and recovery of large caches of weapons and ammunition.
He prioritized upgrading military hardware and infrastructure to boost operational capacity, refurbishing armored personnel carriers and improving living and operational facilities for troops.
He spearheaded community engagement efforts such as Local Community Policing and Peace Enforcement, fostering trust with local populations, which contributed to the release of over 4,000 internally displaced persons and rescue of more than 2,225 civilians from terrorist enclaves.
His command saw the coordination of extensive patrols, ambushes, and offensive operations, supported by Nigerian Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance missions, which were critical in disrupting terrorist command and supply chains.
Major General Shaibu’s tenure included high-profile counter-terrorism successes such as the killing of key terrorist leaders including Tahir Baga and Abu Rijal.Prior to this, he commanded the 7 Division Nigerian Army and served as Commander Sector 1 of Operation Hadin Kai, with a background in the Nigerian Army Armour Corps.
He also served as Director of Training at the Army Headquarters and Commander of the 21 Special Armour Brigade in Bama.His leadership earned recognition for operational effectiveness, including receiving the Security Watch Award in December 2024 for the most outstanding defense command in Africa.Beyond military operations, he initiated civil-military activities like Quranic recitation competitions and training programs, showing a holistic approach to security.
These highlights showcase Major General Waidi Shaibu as a seasoned, operationally focused leader with extensive experience in Nigeria’s counter-insurgency efforts and military training.
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas the new Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), is a veteran of maritime security and naval intelligence and has served in key roles in the Nigerian Navy.
BASIC EDUCATION
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas was born on 20 September 1969 and hails from Nassarawa LGA of Kano State. He enlisted into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) on 12 September 1987 and was commissioned Sub-Lieutenant on 10 September 1993 as a member of NDA 40 Regular Course with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry. The newly appointed Chief of the Naval Staff began his early education at Gwagwarwa Primary School Kano, then proceeded to Airforce Military School Jos from 1981 – 1986 before his admission to NDA into 1987.
MILITARY COURSES ATTENDED AND QUALIFICATIONS
The newly appointed CNS is an Above Water Warfare (AWW) specialist officer who has attended several military courses at home and abroad including the Sub-Lieutenant Technical Course at NNS QUORRA in 1994, the Junior and Senior Staff Courses at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji in 2001 and 2005 respectively. From January to December 2003, he attended the Officers’ Long Course (OLC XII) at NNS QUORRA Apapa Lagos specializing in Above Water Warfare. Rear Admiral Abbas also attended the United Nations Military Observer Course in Tanzania in 2009 and in 2014 he graduated from the prestigious National Defence College (NDC) Abuja as a member of NDC Course 23.
APPOINTMENTS HELD
The newly appointed CNS has held several appointments in the Nigerian Navy. After his commissioning in 1993, he served onboard various NN ships as a Watch-Keeping Officer. Some of the ships include; NNS ARADU, NNS DAMISA and NNS AYAM. Rear Admiral Idi Abbas later served as Naval Assistant to the Deputy Commandant of Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji in 1998. Between 1999 and 2002, he underwent Mandatory Military courses and retuned to NNS DAMISA intermittently as a Watch-Keeping Officer. In January 2004, he was appointed Staff Officer III, Marine Services at Naval Headquarters (NHQ) and later Gunnery Officer NNS OHUE in 2006. In 2007, he became an instructor at NNS QUORRA and in 2008, he was appointed Commanding Officer Burma Battalion of NDA.
Rear Admiral Abbas later served as Base Administrative Officer of NNS PATHFINDER and Naval contingent Commander of Joint Task Force Operation SAFE HAVEN in 2010 and 2012 respectively. He was the Maritime Guard Commander (MGC) of NIMASA in 2015 and Commander Task Group (CTG) of NN Operation Tsare-Teku in 2017. Between 2018 and 2022, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas steadily climbed the ladder of appointments in Central Naval Command first as the Command Admin Officer (CAO) then as the Chief Staff Officer (CSO) culminating in his appointment as Flag Officer Commanding (FOC CNC) of Central Naval Command and within this period, he also served as Commander NNS VICTORY, Calabar in 2020. In July 2023, he was appointed Chief of Naval Safety and Standard (CNASS) at NHQ and in February 2024, he became the Chief of Defence Civil Military Relations (CDCMR) and Defence Headquarters (DHQ). In January 2025, Rear Admiral Abbas was deployed to the Nigerian Army Heritage Centre as a Senior Research Fellow, the appointment he held before his elevation to the post of 25th Chief of Naval Staff, Nigerian Navy.
PROMOTIONS
The newly appointed CNS is a thoroughbred professional Seaman Executive Officer who rose through all the ranks in NN before his appointment. He became a Midshipman on 18 September 1996, 2001
and 2006 respectively he was promoted to the ranks of Lieutenant, Lieutenant-Commander and Commander. He became a Navy Captain in September 2011, a Commodore in 2016 and a Rear Admiral on 10 September 2020.
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
In the course of his distinguished career, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas has earned many prestigious awards including:
Passed Staff Course (psc)
Fellow Defence College (fdc)
Forces Service Star (fss)
Meritorious Service Star (MSS)
Distinguished Service Star (DSS)
Grand Service Star (GSS)
Defence General Staff Medal (DGSM)
He is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) and International Institute of Professional Security (IIPS).
HOBBIES
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas enjoys playing hockey and driving.
MARITAL STATUS
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas is a practicing Muslim who is happily married to Mrs Aisha Abbas and the marriage is blessed with 2 boys.
THE CHIEF OF AIR STAFF.
Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke is the new Chief of Air Staff (CAS).
He was born on February 20, 1972, in Makurdi, Benue State, and is originally from Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State. Aneke attended Army Children School and later Government College Kaduna for his secondary education.
He joined the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1988 as part of the 40th Regular Course and was commissioned as a pilot officer in 1993.He holds multiple academic qualifications, including a B.Sc. in Physics, a postgraduate diploma in Management, a Master’s in International Affairs and Diplomacy, a Master’s in Political Economy and Development Studies, and a Master’s in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Air War College in Montgomery, Alabama. His military training includes Aeromechanical Engineering, Basic and Ab-initio Flying Courses, and Junior and Senior Staff Courses at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji.
Aneke has accumulated over 4,359 flying hours on various aircraft such as Air Beetle 18, Dornier 228, Falcon 900, Gulfstream V, Gulfstream 550, and Hawker 4000, holding an Advanced Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL). He has served as commanding officer at the Air Maritime Group in Benin and as Director of Policy at the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters.
His experience also includes serving with the United Nations Mission in Congo (MONUC) and as Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Defgence Academy.He is married to Mrs. Ngozi Enderline Aneke, with three sons, and his hobbies include flying, music, and movies