President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has relieved General Christopher Musa of his duties as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and appointed General Olufemi Oluyede as his successor.
The announcement was made on Friday in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare.
According to the statement, the new appointments are part of a broader restructuring within the military to inject “renewed energy and direction” into Nigeria’s defence architecture amid evolving security challenges.
Other new Service Chiefs include Major-General W. Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke as Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral I. Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff.
The Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye, will retain his position in the reconstituted defence leadership.
President Tinubu, who also serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, expressed deep appreciation to the outgoing Service Chiefs for their service and patriotism.
“The President expresses his most profound appreciation to the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and other Service Chiefs for their patriotic service and dedicated leadership,” the statement read.
Tinubu emphasized that the reshuffle was aimed at strengthening the military’s operational efficiency and strategic coordination across Nigeria’s armed forces.
“The newly appointed Service Chiefs must justify the confidence reposed in them by upholding professionalism, vigilance, and unity in safeguarding the sovereignty and stability of the nation,” the President stated.
The Presidency confirmed that the appointments take immediate effect, marking a formal transition in the military’s command structure.
General Musa was appointed Chief of Defence Staff in June 2023 following Tinubu’s first major military reorganization after assuming office.
The latest changes represent the President’s second major military shake-up, reflecting his administration’s commitment to retooling Nigeria’s defence leadership to confront emerging security realities across the country.
