Nigeria’s newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, is a battle-tested military officer whose career has spanned nearly four decades of service and command across the country’s toughest operational fronts.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday named Oluyede as the new Defence Chief, succeeding General Christopher Musa, as part of a broader shake-up in the nation’s security leadership. The appointment was announced by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare.
Born in 1968 in Ikere, Ekiti State, Oluyede began his military journey at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) as a member of the 39th Regular Course in 1987. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1992, setting him on a path that would see him rise steadily through the ranks of the Nigerian Army.
Before his latest appointment, Oluyede served as the Chief of Army Staff — first in acting capacity from October 30, 2024, before being confirmed by the House of Representatives and officially assuming office on December 9, 2024.
He previously commanded the Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army in Jaji, Kaduna State — one of the army’s most strategic and combat-driven formations — and has earned recognition for his leadership in internal security operations, particularly in Nigeria’s insurgency-hit northeast.
Sources within the military say the new Defence Chief is expected to focus on strengthening coordination among the Army, Navy, and Air Force, while also prioritising intelligence sharing, troop welfare, and logistics efficiency.
General Oluyede’s appointment is viewed as part of President Tinubu’s push to inject fresh energy into Nigeria’s defence leadership amid persistent security challenges.
