By Ismaeel Aleem
Pesident Bola Tinubu appointed Lieutenant General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Nigerian Armed Forces on Friday, succeeding General Christopher Musa in a sweeping reshuffle aimed at bolstering the nation’s security architecture.
This immediate-effect move also saw new heads for the Army, Air Force, and Navy, with Major-General Waidi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke as Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff.
Oluyede, aged 57, hails from Ikere-Ekiti in Ekiti State, embodying the Southwest’s martial tradition in a role that demands strategic acumen amid escalating threats from insurgency, banditry, and separatist unrest.
Oluyede’s military odyssey commenced in 1987 when he enrolled in the 39th Regular Combatant Course at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna, graduating and being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry Corps in 1992.
A coursemate of the late Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, he ascended swiftly through the ranks, attaining Major General in September 2020.
His formative years honed a reputation for tactical prowess, particularly in counterinsurgency.
Oluyede served with the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) in Liberia during the 1990s, earning commendations for operational excellence in peacekeeping amid civil strife.
Professionally, Oluyede’s career is a tapestry of command and combat. He commanded the 26th Guards Brigade in Maiduguri (2018–2019), spearheading operations against Boko Haram in the Northeast’s volatile theatre.
As General Officer Commanding the 81st Division in Lagos (2020–2021), he fortified internal security amid urban threats. From 2021 to 2023, he led the Infantry Corps as its 56th Commander at Jaji Barracks, Kaduna, training elite troops and innovating tactics for asymmetric warfare.
In October 2024, following Lagbaja’s indisposition, Oluyede assumed the acting Chief of Army Staff role, steering the Army through transitional challenges until his substantive confirmation in December 2024.
His elevation to CDS reflects an accelerated trajectory, underscoring Tinubu’s trust in his interoperability expertise across services.
Oluyede’s accolades illuminate his meritorious service: the Corps Medal of Honour, Grand Service Star, Field Command Medal of Honour, Field Training Medal, and the prestigious Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award.
A member of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), he advocates for joint operations, intelligence fusion, and civil-military synergy to combat multifaceted threats.
Married with three children, Oluyede maintains a discreet personal life, prioritising family amid demanding duties.
This appointment arrives at a juncture of heightened insecurity, with off-cycle elections and border vulnerabilities demanding robust defence.
Oluyede’s infantry grit, honed in Liberia’s jungles and Nigeria’s badlands, positions him to unify the forces, advance digital warfare integration, and reclaim territorial sovereignty.
