General Olufemi Oluyede, new Chief of Defence Staff
A major shakeup has taken place in Nigeria’s security architecture with the change on Friday of security chiefs. Only the Chief of Defence Intelligence Major-General E.A.P Undiandeye survived the change.
The major shakeup came on the heels of a recent coup scare following the arrest of 17 officers.
A terse statement signed by Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication announced the dropping of General Christopher Musa as the Chief of Defence Staff and replaced with General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede who was until his elevation, the Chief of Army Staff (CAS). He was appointed into the position in acting capacity October 30, 2024, following the indisposition of the former CAS, General Taoreed Lagbaja who was away in the United Kingdom for medical treatment.
Dare’s statement read:
“President Bola Tinubu has made changes in the hierarchy of the Service Chiefs in furtherance of the efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria to strengthen the national security architecture.
““The President appointed General Olufemi Oluyede to replace General Christopher Musa as the new Chief of Defence Staff. The new Chief of Army Staff is Major-General W. Shaibu. Air Vice Marshall S.K Aneke is Chief of Air Staff while Rear Admiral I. Abbas is the new Chief of Naval Staff. Chief of Defence Intelligence Major-General E.A.P Undiendeye retains his position.
“The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, expresses most profound appreciation to the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa and the other Service Chiefs for their patriotic service, and dedicated leadership.
“The President charges the newly appointed Service Chiefs to justify the confidence reposed in them to further enhance the professionalism, vigilance and comradeship that define the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“All appointments take immediate effect”.
Lieutenant General Oluyede was born in Ikere, Ekiti State in 1968. He began his military career in 1987 as a cadet in the Nigerian Defence Academy. He was officially commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1992 after completing the Nigerian Army’s training regimen.
Oluyede is a member of the 39th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy, along with Late Lt. Gen Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.
His military career has spanned numerous command and staff roles across Nigeria and in various international deployments.
Promoted to the rank of major general in 2020, he has held many command positions including Platoon Commander and Adjutant at the 65 Battalion, Company Commander at the 177 Guards Battalion, Staff Officer with the Guards Brigade, Commandant of the Amphibious Training School, and Commander of the 27 Task Force Brigade in the North East, leading operations under Operation HADIN KAI.
He has also participated in international peacekeeping and conflict resolution missions, including the ECOMOG Mission in Liberia and Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi.
In 2024, Oluyede was appointed Acting Chief of Army Staff by President Bola Tinubu to temporarily fill the position during the indisposition of Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja. His appointment was later confirmed by the senate, and he officially took office on 9 December 2024. Prior to this, Oluyede served as the 56th commander of the Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army in Jaji, Kaduna.
