On October 25, 2025, Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu made a sweeping move that has sent ripples through the nation’s political and military landscape: the sacking of the country’s service chiefs and the appointment of new leaders to helm the armed forces. The decision, which has drawn praise, skepticism, and a fair share of speculation, marks one of the most significant efforts yet to overhaul Nigeria’s national security architecture in recent years.
According to statements released by the presidency and reported by multiple outlets including the News Agency of Nigeria and DAILY POST, the new appointments include General Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff, replacing General Christopher Musa. Major-General W. Shaibu steps in as Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke becomes Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral I. Abbas takes over as Chief of Naval Staff. Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye retains his position as Chief of Defence Intelligence. The changes, Tinubu’s office emphasized, are aimed squarely at strengthening the country’s security apparatus amid mounting challenges.
“It’s not a new thing. The President has the authority to appoint or reshuffle the service chiefs to enhance the nation’s security structure,” said Olumuyiwa Jimoh, a former Deputy Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, in comments to NAN. He described the move as strategic and well within Tinubu’s constitutional powers, adding, “This may have been done to strengthen our national defence system, and it is a welcome development.”
While some corners of Nigeria’s political class have whispered about alleged coup plots underpinning the shake-up, Jimoh dismissed such rumors as “speculative and unfounded.” He said, “Whether there are rumours or not, the President has every right to reshuffle his team. Whether it’s the service chiefs, ministers, or ambassadors. That is why he is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.”
The reaction from Nigeria’s security experts has been largely supportive, though not without caveats. Bulama Bukarti, a prominent security consultant, told Channels Television (as reported by DAILY POST) that the reshuffle was both timely and necessary, especially given the deteriorating security situation in the past year. “When you have looked at what has happened in Nigeria’s security landscape over the past year or two, then you would realise that change of leadership is long overdue,” Bukarti said. He pointed to a resurgence of Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Yobe states, where the group has targeted military formations and, in many cases, killed soldiers. “So, you would say that our security system in the last year has deteriorated, and if the President is looking at that, then it is the right time for a change in service chiefs.”
Bukarti, however, did not mince words about the limitations of mere personnel changes. “We have been here many times and seen service chiefs change. The problem is that wherever you have leadership renewal without reforms, it just becomes rotation, and rotation alone is not going to solve our national security problem,” he cautioned on Channels Television. He stressed that what Nigeria needs is not just qualified officers—“All of the new service chiefs are eminently qualified when you look at their background in their military and their paper qualifications”—but leaders with “initiative to reform the Nigerian security architecture.”
He called for a shift in military strategy, urging the new chiefs to adopt guerrilla warfare tactics and to reform the system from within. “It is not the rotation that is important; it is whether they have the guts to reform the Nigerian military and security architecture. Until and unless we do that, we may continue to rotate leadership, but nothing good will come out of that.”
The United Premier Movement (UPM), a political advocacy group, also weighed in, describing the reshuffle as both strategic and timely. In a statement signed by its convener, Hon. (Chief) Olalekan A. Shoyinka, the UPM lauded Tinubu’s “courage and foresight in strengthening the country’s security architecture.” The group commended the outgoing chiefs, led by General Musa, for their “years of patriotic service and dedication,” and called on the new appointees to “defend our democracy with every legitimate means, foster inter-service cooperation, and embrace intelligence-driven operations.” Shoyinka stressed that troop welfare must remain a priority, warning that public confidence in the Armed Forces depends on professionalism, discipline, and respect for human rights.
But the shake-up is not without its political critics. The African Democratic Congress (ADC), through its spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi, questioned the timing and intent of the changes, especially amid persistent rumors of instability in the wider Sahel region. The ADC called on the government to explain its rationale, arguing that Nigerians deserve clarity during a period of heightened insecurity and regional turbulence.
Meanwhile, the new appointments have triggered a cascade of retirements within the military’s upper ranks. According to DAILY POST and other sources, as many as 140 officers may be stepping down, both voluntarily and as a result of military hierarchy traditions. Military sources told DAILY POST that over 60 generals could be affected, making way for a new generation of officers to rise through the ranks. Bukarti noted that this has both positive and negative implications: “While it is concerning to lose such numbers, it would give space for officers who have been stagnant and can gain promotion.”
Adding another layer to the story, President Tinubu has approved new, generous retirement benefits for outgoing military chiefs under the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service (HTACOS) 2024. Each retired service chief will receive a bulletproof SUV and a Prado Jeep (or equivalent), replaced every four years, $20,000 annually for medical expenses (in Nigeria or abroad), five domestic staff, one security officer, nine guards, three drivers, personal firearms, and lifelong access to military escorts. Other senior officers will receive graded benefits based on rank, from Land Cruisers and Hilux pickups for lieutenant-generals to Toyota Camrys and $10,000 annual medical coverage for one-star officers. The Senate’s joint committee on Defence, Army, and Navy is set to begin screening the new service chiefs this week.
Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, former head of the Presidential Investigative Panel, described the reshuffle as “a strategic realignment aimed at reforming Nigeria’s security structure.” In his words, “This change signals a new phase in Tinubu’s first term — one focused on decisive security action and national stability.”
As the dust settles, the question on many minds is whether this bold move will translate into greater peace and stability for Nigeria. Will the new chiefs bring the innovation and reform that experts like Bukarti demand? Or will the changes prove to be, as skeptics warn, just another round of musical chairs in the country’s long struggle with insecurity? For now, all eyes are on the new military leadership—and on President Tinubu, whose gamble may well define his legacy.
