The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced a major leadership realignment, appointing new Air Officers Commanding (AOCs) for its five operational commands as part of efforts to strengthen command effectiveness, enhance operational readiness and improve its capacity to support ongoing joint military operations.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, approved the new appointments on November 7, 2026, alongside several other senior postings across Service Headquarters, Defence Headquarters, training institutions and strategic establishments.
According to an official statement signed by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the exercise is aimed at aligning the professional competencies and experience of senior officers with the Nigerian Air Force’s evolving operational and institutional requirements.
Under the new arrangement, AVM NI Ilo has been appointed Air Officer Commanding, 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 becomes AOC, Special Operations Command; while AVM FCS Nwakara assumes command of Ground Training Command.
Beyond the operational commands, the leadership realignment affects several strategic positions at Headquarters NAF. AVM AK Ademuwagun has been appointed Chief of Transformation and Innovation; AVM PN Amadi, Chief of Air Intelligence; AVM NN Ananaba, Chief of Operations; AVM EE Efiom, Chief of Training; and AVM AJ Laoye, Chief of Aircraft Engineering.
Other appointments at the Service Headquarters include AVM AH Bakari as Air Provost Marshal; AVM AG Kehinde as Chief of Civil-Military Relations; AVM MA Sulaiman as Chief of Communications and Information Systems; and AVM MS Ibrahim as Chairman, Air Expo and International Liaison.
The reshuffle also covers key military training institutions, with AVM PB Philips appointed Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), while AVM MC Ekwueme becomes Commandant, Armed Forces Resettlement Centre.
Other senior officers appointed to head training institutions 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 strategic defence level, AVM UK Abdullahi has been appointed Director of Defence Operations at Defence Headquarters, while AVM EOE Ebiowe moves to the Office of the National Security Adviser as Deputy Coordinator, National Intelligence.
The appointments further extend 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 significant appointment, AVM JI Ukeh has been named Commander, Nigerian Air Defence Corps, while AVM GI Jibia becomes Deputy Force Commander, Operation HADIN KAI.
The CAS 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 deliver decisive airpower effects in support of joint operations and national security objectives.
All affected officers have been directed to assume their new positions and complete the necessary handover and takeover formalities not later than November 13, 2026.
