President Bola Tinubu on Friday approved sweeping changes in the leadership of Nigeria’s Armed Forces, a move aimed at strengthening national security and consolidating command loyalty within the military.
The reshuffle, announced in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, comes amid speculation of unease within the ranks and renewed “coup scare” reports that have dominated public discourse in recent weeks.
According to the statement, General Olufemi Oluyede replaces General Christopher Musa as Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General W. Shaibu becomes Chief of Army Staff; Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke assumes duty as Chief of Air Staff, while Rear Admiral I. Abbas takes over as Chief of Naval Staff. The Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye, retains his position.
Dare explained that the appointments were part of the President’s efforts to recalibrate Nigeria’s security architecture for greater efficiency and effectiveness. He described the exercise as routine and in line with Tinubu’s constitutional authority as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
“It is routine. The President, as the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic, can make such appointments just as he changed ministers a few months ago,” he said.
Announcing the new service chiefs earlier on his verified X handle, @officialABAT, President Tinubu urged them to deepen professionalism, vigilance, and unity within the Armed Forces.
“I have approved changes in the hierarchy of our Armed Forces to further strengthen Nigeria’s national security architecture. I charge the new Service Chiefs to deepen professionalism, vigilance, and unity within our Armed Forces as they serve our nation with honour,” he stated.
The President commended the outgoing Service Chiefs for their “patriotic service and dedicated leadership,” urging their successors to justify the confidence reposed in them. The statement said all appointments take immediate effect.
Although changes in military leadership are not uncommon, the timing of this overhaul follows persistent rumours of coup plots and concerns over internal cohesion within the military claims repeatedly dismissed by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ).
In February 2024, reports alleged that the Guards Brigade, responsible for protecting the Presidency, had been placed on high alert over a supposed coup attempt. Both the DHQ and Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, denounced the claims as “malicious, unfounded, and a desperate act of disinformation.”
Similar rumours resurfaced in October 2025, alleging that 16 senior officers had been arrested for plotting to overthrow the government during the Independence Day celebrations. The DHQ later clarified that the arrests were disciplinary and unrelated to any coup attempt.
Analysts say the recurring coup speculations reflect deep public anxiety fuelled by economic hardship, insecurity, and eroding trust in governance. A retired security official noted that the rumours “reveal how fragile public confidence has become—in governance, the economy, and the stability of the state.”
Nigeria’s proximity to countries recently hit by coups, including Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, has further heightened tensions. However, the Nigerian military has consistently reaffirmed its loyalty to democratic rule, pledging to “defend Nigeria’s unity and constitutional order.”
Meanwhile, Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has called on the Federal Government to review the Nigerian Air Force’s safety protocols following reports that Boko Haram insurgents have begun deploying drones to attack military bases in the North East.
Speaking at his country home in Mafa, Zulum described the development as a “dangerous escalation” in the terrorists’ capabilities, citing recent drone strikes on military formations in Mafa, Dikwa, and Gajino, a border community with Cameroon.
“This is frightening, as Boko Haram terrorists used drones to attack the Dikwa military formations established since 2014 to contain the influx of insurgents from the Wulgo Forest,” the governor said.
He urged border communities in Chad and Cameroon to remain vigilant and report credible intelligence to the security agencies, while encouraging the civilian Joint Task Force to remain steadfast in supporting ongoing counter-terrorism operations.
