The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has redeployed 41 Air Vice Marshals (AVMs) in a major leadership restructuring affecting its operational commands, service headquarters, military training institutions and other strategic establishments.
The redeployment, approved by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, is aimed at strengthening command effectiveness, improving institutional capacity and sustaining operational readiness in support of the country’s national security objectives.
The Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, explaining that the appointments were intended to match officers’ professional experience and leadership capabilities with the service’s evolving operational priorities.
At the operational command level, AVM NI Ilo has been appointed Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Tactical Air Command, while AVM BR Mamman takes charge of Mobility Command.
Other appointments include AVM OS Ogunsina as AOC, Logistics Command; AVM MN Onyebashi as AOC, Special Operations Command; and AVM FCS Nwakara as AOC, Ground Training Command.
At the NAF Headquarters, AVM AK Ademuwagun has been appointed Chief of Transformation and Innovation, while AVM IV Ajiboye becomes Superintendent of Standards and Evaluation.
While AVM PN Amadi is the new Chief of Air Intelligence, AVM NN Ananaba assumed the position of Chief of Operations. Other appointments include 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.
Also appointed are AVM MA Sulaiman as Chief of Communications and Information Systems and AVM AJ Laoye as Chief of Aircraft Engineering.
The restructuring extends to military training institutions, where AVM PB Philips was appointed Commandant of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, while AVM MC Ekwueme takes over as Commandant of the Armed Forces Resettlement Centre.
AVM AO Akinbunwa becomes Commandant of the Air Force War College, while AVM A Idris is appointed Commandant of the Air Warfare Doctrine Centre.
Other appointments include AVM JA Ekwuribe as Commandant of the Regiment Training Centre; AVM OC Ubadike as Commandant of the Air Force Institute of Technology; and AVM AI Sambo as Commandant of the Nigerian Air Force College of Logistics and Management.
At the Defence Headquarters, AVM UK Abdullahi was appointed Director of Defence Operations, just as AVM EOE Ebiowe moved to the Office of the National Security Adviser as Deputy Coordinator, National Intelligence.
Other officers posted to 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 Defence Space Administration also featured in the exercise, with AVM AA Suleh appointed Deputy Chief.
AVM OA Oyename and AVM SS Lazarus have been named Directors of Earth Observation and Launch Vehicles, and Space Operations, respectively.
In other appointments, AVM JI Ukeh was made Commander of the Nigerian Air Defence Corps, while AVM GI Jibia became Deputy Force Commander of Operation HADIN KAI.
According to the statement, Aneke expressed confidence that the newly appointed officers would bring their professional expertise and wealth of experience to bear in advancing his command philosophy and strengthening the Air Force’s contribution to joint military operations.
The NAF said that the exercise reflected its commitment to leadership renewal, institutional accountability and improved operational effectiveness.
All affected officers are expected to assume their new responsibilities and complete the necessary handover and takeover procedures on or before November 13, 2026.
