Nigeria’s security apparatus has been thrust into the spotlight once again as President Bola Tinubu executed a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s top military leadership on October 24, 2025. The move—marking the second such shake-up since Tinubu took office in 2023—has ignited debate, speculation, and a flurry of official statements aimed at quelling rumors of instability within the armed forces.
The Presidency, in a bid to set the record straight, clarified that the decision to replace the Chief of Defence Staff and the heads of the Army, Navy, and Air Force was not motivated by whispers of a coup plot or fears of military disloyalty. Instead, the administration insists, the shake-up is part of a broader effort to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture and inject new energy into the battle against insurgency, banditry, and other national threats.
“The President acted within his constitutional powers as Commander-in-Chief,” Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, told PUNCH. “He can appoint, redeploy, or remove service chiefs at any time he deems fit. This latest decision was not in response to any coup plot, but to bring renewed momentum into the armed forces.”
The dismissals affected General Christopher Musa (Chief of Defence Staff), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla (Chief of Naval Staff), and Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar (Chief of Air Staff). In their place, Tinubu appointed Olufemi Oluyede—formerly the army chief—as the new Chief of Defence Staff, with W. Shaibu, I. Abbas, and S.K. Aneke stepping in as the new heads of the army, air force, and navy, respectively. Their names were released by the Presidency late on October 23 or 24, adding an air of urgency to the proceedings.
According to PUNCH, the overhaul comes after months of persistent insecurity, particularly in Nigeria’s northern states. Despite heavy military deployments, bandit attacks and abductions have continued unabated, leaving many citizens feeling vulnerable and frustrated. The government’s frustration with the pace and effectiveness of security operations was a driving force behind the decision to replace the service chiefs, sources within Defence Headquarters revealed.
The timing of the shake-up, however, raised eyebrows. Just weeks before the announcement, reports surfaced that more than 20 military officers, including a brigadier general, had been detained over an alleged coup plot—rumors the government has vehemently denied. As speculation swirled on social media and in political circles, Onanuga moved quickly to quash the narrative, describing the rumors as “baseless and mischievous attempts to distract the government.”
“Those spreading such claims do not understand how the system works,” Onanuga said. “The Nigerian Armed Forces remain loyal to the constitution and to the Commander-in-Chief. What the President has done is a normal exercise of his executive prerogative.”
Yet, the context cannot be ignored. Nigeria is currently grappling with a surge in violence and unrest. The northern regions remain under siege by extremist groups—Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and Ansaru—as well as increasingly brazen bandit militias. These groups have not only expanded their influence but have also managed to overrun military outposts, bomb key transport routes, and kidnap civilians and soldiers alike. The sense of insecurity has only been heightened by recent clashes in Abuja, where police fired tear gas at protesters demanding the release of separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu, resulting in dozens of arrests, as reported by AP.
Against this backdrop, the U.S. government earlier this year approved a $346 million arms deal to bolster Nigeria’s fight against insurgents and organized crime networks—a sign of the international community’s recognition of the country’s security challenges.
The presidency’s official line is that the shake-up is about performance, not paranoia. Still, some analysts see a more nuanced picture. Senator Iroegbu, a security analyst cited by AP, observed, “Some of us saw these changes coming. This also means that in the current state of events, the administration might be prioritizing regime protection above any other security threats.”
Other experts agree that the reshuffle signals Tinubu’s intent to align military leadership with his broader national security strategy—a strategy that emphasizes intelligence-driven operations, inter-agency coordination, and the modernization of defense infrastructure. Defence analyst Kabiru Adamu told PUNCH, “What we’re seeing is a leader consolidating his control over the military and ensuring loyalty is matched with results.”
In a statement released by his spokesman Sunday Dare, President Tinubu urged the new service chiefs to “uphold the professionalism, vigilance and comradeship that define the Armed Forces of Nigeria.” The expectation is clear: the new leadership must deliver on counterterrorism and internal security operations with renewed vigor and fresh perspectives.
Meanwhile, the Presidency has called on Nigerians to support the new military leadership, reaffirming its confidence in the institution and its commitment to constitutional governance. “There is no cause for alarm,” Onanuga assured. “The President wants a more efficient, responsive, and professional military that can deliver on its constitutional responsibilities.”
Despite the government’s assurances, the shake-up has inevitably fueled debate about the underlying motives. While officials steadfastly deny any connection to coup rumors, the timing—coinciding with heightened security tensions and public unrest—has left some Nigerians questioning whether the administration’s primary concern is national security or regime stability.
Still, for many observers, the latest reshuffle is a sign of a president determined to reassert control over a critical arm of government at a time when Nigeria faces evolving and complex threats. The new service chiefs, now at the helm, have a daunting task ahead: restoring public confidence, improving operational effectiveness, and navigating the delicate balance between loyalty and performance.
As Nigeria’s security landscape continues to shift, the coming months will reveal whether Tinubu’s bold move will translate into the stability and renewed momentum his administration so clearly seeks. For now, one thing is certain: the eyes of the nation—and the world—are watching closely as a new era of military leadership takes shape in Africa’s most populous country.
