Tinubu Reshuffles Military Leadership: Presidency Says Move Meant to Reinforce National Security

Routine shake-up or silent message? Presidency defends decision as new service chiefs take charge
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the removal of Nigeria’s service chiefs in what the Presidency has described as a “routine but strategic” step aimed at strengthening the nation’s security architecture.

The announcement, which took the nation by surprise on Friday morning, was followed by the appointment of a fresh crop of military leaders to head the various arms of the Armed Forces.

According to a statement from the Presidency, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede has been appointed Chief of Defence Staff, succeeding General Musa. Also appointed are 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.

Major General E.A.P. Undiendeye retains his position as Chief of Defence Intelligence, providing a measure of continuity amid the sweeping changes.

Speaking exclusively to Daily Trust, Presidential spokesperson Sunday Dare dismissed speculations of internal discord or dissatisfaction within the military hierarchy. He maintained that the move was “a normal administrative process” intended to refresh the leadership and inject new energy into ongoing security operations.

> “This is a routine measure meant to boost security across the nation,” Dare explained. “The Commander-in-Chief has the constitutional authority to make these changes whenever necessary—just as commanding officers of divisions can be reassigned or replaced in the line of duty.”

Security experts, however, view the development as more than a routine adjustment. They argue that Tinubu’s decision may signal the start of a new security doctrine—one focused on accountability, field efficiency, and intelligence coordination amid persistent threats from insurgents, bandits, and separatist groups.

The shake-up comes at a critical time when the administration is under increasing pressure to deliver on its promise to end insecurity and restore peace in volatile regions.

For many Nigerians, the test will now lie in the ability of the new service chiefs to deliver tangible results where their predecessors struggled—on the frontlines, in intelligence gathering, and in rebuilding public confidence in the armed forces.