The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced the redeployment of 27 senior officers in the rank of Air Vice Marshal (AVM), marking the first major command shake-up approved by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke.
The sweeping reform, which takes effect immediately, is aimed at aligning NAF’s command structure with ongoing defence reforms, evolving national security needs, and strengthening operational efficiency across its strategic formations and training institutions.
According to a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the exercise reflects the CAS’s commitment to improving decision-making speed, enhancing mission readiness, and reinforcing accountability at all command levels.
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Under the new posting arrangement, AVM Abubakar Abdullahi assumes office as Chief of Policy and Plans at the Air Force Headquarters, while AVM Adeniran Ademuwagun takes over as Commandant of the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Kaduna. AVM Ibitayo Ajiboye has been appointed Group Managing Director of the Nigerian Air Force Investment Limited (NAFIL) Group of Companies.
In operations and intelligence, AVM Precious Amadi becomes Chief of Operations, and AVM Nnamdi Ananaba takes charge as Chief of Air Intelligence. AVM Ebimobo Ebiowe now serves as Superintendent of Standards and Evaluation, while AVM Ahmed Dari becomes Chief of Training.
The Transformation and Innovation Branch is now headed by AVM Mohammed Ibrahim, reflecting the service’s increasing focus on technological modernization and digital warfare readiness.
In the logistics and engineering sectors, AVM Olufemi Ogunsina now serves as Chief of Aircraft Engineering, and AVM Michael Onyebashi takes command as Air Officer Commanding, Mobility Command. AVM David Pwajok is the new Chief of Communication and Information Systems, and AVM John Ukeh assumes the role of Air Provost Marshal, overseeing internal security enforcement.
The administrative cadre also saw major changes. AVM Simon Peter now leads the NAFIL Housing and Construction Company as Managing Director, while AVM Chidiebere Obiabaka assumes duty as Air Secretary. AVM Anthony Martins has been appointed Chief of Administration, and AVM Abubakar Sule becomes Air Officer Commanding, Logistics Command. Similarly, AVM Abdulrasheed Kotun now heads NAF Farms as Managing Director.
AVM Edward Gabkwet, the immediate past NAF spokesperson, has been named Chief of Civil-Military Relations, while AVM Osichinaka Ubadike assumes duty as Deputy Commandant of AFIT, Kaduna.
Other senior officers — including AVMs Ahmed Bakari, Albert Bot, Idi Sani, Muhammed Suleiman, Jibrin Usman, and Japheht Ekwuribe — have been posted to various defence and joint service institutions to enhance inter-agency coordination and national defence cohesion.
Air Marshal Aneke described the redeployment as a strategic effort to balance leadership, sustain institutional reforms, and build an agile, intelligence-driven Air Force capable of addressing Nigeria’s evolving security landscape.
The development comes barely 24 hours after the Nigerian Army announced a similar reshuffle involving 27 senior officers, including 25 Major Generals and two Brigadier Generals, signaling ongoing reforms across the nation’s armed forces.