Tinubu Fires CDS Musa and All Service Chiefs, Appoints Oluyede to Lead Armed Forces

In a sweeping military overhaul, President Bola Tinubu on Friday, October 24, 2025, relieved the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, and the heads of the Army, Navy, and Air Force of their duties, immediately appointing a new set of military leaders.

The Presidency announced the shake-up as part of a renewed push to “strengthen the national security architecture” amid persistent insecurity across the country. General Olufemi Oluyede, who was serving as the Chief of Army Staff, has been elevated to the new Chief of Defence Staff, replacing General Musa.

Other immediate appointments are:

• Major-General W. Shaibu as the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
• Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke as the new Chief of Air Staff (CAS).
• Rear Admiral I. Abbas as the new Chief of Naval Staff (CNS).

Significantly, the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye, retains his position.

The move comes against the backdrop of weeks of heightened political tension and rumours of disloyalty and alleged coup plots within the military—claims that the Defence Headquarters had previously denied. While the Presidency did not tie the dismissals to any specific incident, the timing of the complete overhaul has intensified speculation about the administration’s need to reassert full command and control over the Armed Forces.

The President expressed his profound appreciation to the outgoing Service Chiefs for their “patriotic service and dedicated leadership,” while charging their successors to justify the confidence reposed in them by upholding professionalism, vigilance, and unity. All the appointments took immediate effect.