CURRICULUM VITAÉ OF THE NEWLY APPOINTED CHIEF OF THE NAVAL STAFF – REAR ADMIRAL IDI ABBAS
BASIC EDUCATION
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas was born on 20 September 1969 in and hails from Nassarawa LGA of Kano State. He enlisted into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) on 12 September 1987 and was commissioned Sub-Lieutenant on 10 September 1993 as a member of NDA 40 Regular Course with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry. The newly appointed Chief of the Naval Staff began his early education at Gwagwarwa Primary School Kano, then proceeded to Airforce Military School Jos from 1981 – 1986 before his admission to NDA into 1987.
MILITARY COURSES ATTENDED AND QUALIFICATIONS
The newly appointed CNS is an Above Water Warfare (AWW) specialist officer who has attended several military courses at home and abroad including the Sub-Lieutenant Technical Course at NNS QUORRA in 1994, the Junior and Senior Staff Courses at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji in 2001 and 2005 respectively. From January to December 2003, he attended the Officers’ Long Course (OLC XII) at NNS QUORRA Apapa Lagos specializing in Above Water Warfare. Rear Admiral Abbas also attended the United Nations Military Observer Course in Tanzania in 2009 and in 2014 he graduated from the prestigious National Defence College (NDC) Abuja as a member of NDC Course 23.
APPOINTMENTS HELD
The newly appointed CNS has held several appointments in the Nigerian Navy. After his commissioning in 1993, he served onboard various NN ships as a Watch-Keeping Officer. Some of the ships include; NNS ARADU, NNS DAMISA and NNS AYAM. Rear Admiral Idi Abbas later served as Naval Assistant to the Deputy Commandant of Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji in 1998. Between 1999 and 2002, he underwent Mandatory Military courses and retuned to NNS DAMISA intermittently as a Watch-Keeping Officer. In January 2004, he was appointed Staff Officer III, Marine Services at Naval Headquarters (NHQ) and later Gunnery Officer NNS OHUE in 2006. In 2007, he became an instructor at NNS QUORRA and in 2008, he was appointed Commanding Officer Burma Battalion of NDA.
Rear Admiral Abbas later served as Base Administrative Officer of NNS PATHFINDER and Naval contingent Commander of Joint Task Force Operation SAFE HAVEN in 2010 and 2012 respectively. He was the Maritime Guard Commander (MGC) of NIMASA in 2015 and Commander Task Group (CTG) of NN Operation Tsare-Teku in 2017. Between 2018 and 2022, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas steadily climbed the ladder of appointments in Central Naval Command first as the Command Admin Officer (CAO) then as the Chief Staff Officer (CSO) culminating in his appointment as Flag Officer Commanding (FOC CNC) of Central Naval Command and within this period, he also served as Commander NNS VICTORY, Calabar in 2020. In July 2023, he was appointed Chief of Naval Safety and Standard (CNASS) at NHQ and in February 2024, he became the Chief of Defence Civil Military Relations (CDCMR) and Defence Headquarters (DHQ). In January 2025, Rear Admiral Abbas was deployed to the Nigerian Army Heritage Centre as a Senior Research Fellow, the appointment he held before his elevation to the post of 25th Chief of Naval Staff, Nigerian Navy.
PROMOTIONS
The newly appointed CNS is a thoroughbred professional Seaman Executive Officer who rose through all the ranks in NN before his appointment. He became a Midshipman on 18 September 1996, 2001
and 2006 respectively he was promoted to the ranks of Lieutenant, Lieutenant-Commander and Commander. He became a Navy Captain in September 2011, a Commodore in 2016 and a Rear Admiral on 10 September 2020.
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
In the course of his distinguished career, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas has earned many prestigious awards including:
• Passed Staff Course (psc)
• Fellow Defence College (fdc)
• Forces Service Star (fss)
• Meritorious Service Star (MSS)
• Distinguished Service Star (DSS)
• Grand Service Star (GSS)
• Defence General Staff Medal (DGSM)
He is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) and International Institute of Professional Security (IIPS).
HOBBIES
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas enjoys playing hockey and driving.
MARITAL STATUS
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas is a practicing Muslim who is happily married to Mrs Aisha Abbas and the marriage is blessed with 2 boys.
CITATION OF AIR VICE MARSHAL SUNDAY KELVIN ANEKE
23rd Chief of the Air Staff, Nigerian Air Force
The appointment of Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke as the 23rd Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) marks a new chapter in the history of the Nigerian Air Force, one defined by intellectual depth, operational precision, and a renewed commitment to national security and airpower excellence.
Born on 20 February 1972 in Makurdi, Benue State, Air Vice Marshal Aneke hails from Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State. The son of Air Warrant Officer (Rtd) Sylvester and Mrs Ngozi Aneke, his early education at Army Children School, New Cantonment ‘A’, Kaduna (1976–1982) and Government College, Kaduna (1982–1987) laid the foundation for a disciplined and purpose-driven life. He was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the 40th Regular Combatant Course and was commissioned into the Nigerian Air Force as a Pilot Officer on 10 September 1993, a journey that has since reflected brilliance, dedication, and steady ascension through merit.
An erudite scholar and strategic thinker, Air Vice Marshal Aneke holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics, a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from the University of Calabar, and two Master’s Degrees, one in International Affairs and Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and another in Political Economy and Development Studies from the University of Abuja. He also possesses a Professional Certificate in Aviation Safety Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida, USA, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). His pursuit of knowledge reflects a deep commitment to informed leadership and adaptive strategy in modern airpower application.
Throughout his distinguished career, Air Vice Marshal Aneke has attended some of the most prestigious military institutions, including the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, where he completed the Junior and Senior Staff Courses, and the United States Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, where he earned a Master’s in Strategic Studies. He has held numerous command, instructional, and policy appointments that shaped his operational and strategic acumen, among them Director of Policy, Director of Safety, Deputy Director of Operations at NAF Headquarters, Command Operations Officer, Tactical Air Command, and Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy. Until his appointment as CAS, he served as Air Officer Commanding, Mobility Command, Yenagoa, where he enhanced air mobility, strengthened joint force integration, and improved the strategic response of the Nigerian Air Force in multi-domain operations.
An accomplished pilot with over 4,359 flying hours, Air Vice Marshal Aneke is type-rated on multiple aircraft including the Air Beetle 18, Dornier 228, Citation 500, Falcon 900, Gulfstream V, Gulfstream 550, and Hawker 4000. His operational experience spans domestic and international theatres, from Operation Restore Hope in the Niger Delta to United Nations peacekeeping operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC), where he served as Chief of Air Operations, Kindu Region. His contributions to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations have been instrumental in improving NAF’s counter-insurgency capabilities across multiple fronts.
Decorated with numerous medals and honours including GSS, DSS, GSM, FCM, Psc, MSc, MIAD, MPEDS, and USAFWC, Air Vice Marshal Aneke is widely regarded as a refined officer, visionary leader, and professional aviator of exceptional integrity and depth. His calm disposition, strategic foresight, and results-oriented leadership have earned him respect within and beyond the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
As he assumes command as the 23rd Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke brings with him a wealth of experience, intellectual rigour, and operational dexterity that position him to steer the Nigerian Air Force towards greater efficiency in the fight against terrorism, insurgency, and emerging security threats. Under his leadership, the Service is set to strengthen airpower projection, deepen intelligence-led operations, and drive innovation in defence technology and human capacity development.
Air Vice Marshal Aneke is happily married to Mrs Ngozi Enderline Aneke, and their union is blessed with three sons, Chukwuebuka Kelvin, Ifeanyichukwu Brian, and Uchechukwu Jason. With a deep sense of duty, humility, and service, Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke embodies the highest ideals of the Nigerian Air Force, discipline, courage, and excellence, as he leads the Service into a new era of smarter airpower delivery and enduring national security.
NIGERIAN ARMY GETS 25TH CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF**
The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has approved the appointment of Major General Waidi Shaibu as the 25th Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Nigerian Army.
The newly appointed Army Chief succeeds Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, who has been elevated to the position of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Armed Forces of Nigeria.
A battle-hardened commander, strategic thinker, and decorated officer of repute, Major General Shaibu’s appointment marks a defining phase in the ongoing transformation of the Nigerian Army—towards greater operational readiness, professionalism, and an unyielding commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Born on 18 December 1971 in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, Major General Waidi Shaibu was admitted into the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) as a member of 41 Regular Course in 1989 and was commissioned into the Nigerian Army Armoured Corps on 17 September 1994. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the NDA, Kaduna.
A consummate scholar-warrior, General Shaibu holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Public Administration from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, as well as multiple advanced degrees, including a Master’s in Public Administration (University of Calabar), a Master’s in Strategic Studies (University of Ibadan), and a Master’s in Security and Strategic Studies (National Defence University, Washington D.C., USA). He is also an alumnus of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and the National Productivity Centre’s Senior Executive Programme in Applied Leadership and Strategy.
Over the course of his distinguished career, Major General Shaibu has attended several professional courses both at home and abroad, including the Young Officers Courses (Armour and Infantry), Company Amphibious Operations, Junior and Senior Staff Courses, Battalion Commanders Course, and the Higher Defence Management Course at the National Defence College, Abuja. He also attended the Defence Resources Management Course in Kenya and the Counter-Terrorism Fellows Programme at the National Defence University, Washington D.C., among others.
Major General Shaibu has held several strategic, command, and instructional appointments that have tested and proven his mettle in diverse operational environments. These include:
* General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division and Commander Sector 1, Operation HADIN KAI, Maiduguri;
* Brigade Commander, 21 Special Armoured Brigade, Bama;
* Chief of Training, Army Headquarters;
* Director, Coordination, National Defence College;
* Principal Staff Officer (Army), Defence Headquarters;
* Chief Instructor, Nigerian Army Armour School;
* Assistant Director, Peacekeeping Operations, Defence Headquarters;
* Commanding Officer, 243 Battalion, Monguno; and
* Chief of Staff, 23 Brigade, Yola.
He also served as Military Assistant to the Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of Liberia, and Military Observer** with the African Mission in Sudan.
His operational footprint spans several key military engagements within and outside Nigeria, including Operations HARMONY, BOYONA, ZAMAN LAFIYA, LAFIYA DOLE, TURA TAKAIBANGO, HADIN KAI, DESERT SANITY, and LAKE SANITY. Internationally, he has represented Nigeria in the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and the African Mission in Sudan (AMIS), as well as in Nigeria’s Foreign Training Assistance Mission to Liberia.
In recognition of his exemplary service, gallantry, and loyalty to the nation, Major General Shaibu has earned numerous honours and decorations, including the Forces Service Star (FSS), Meritorious Service Star (MSS), Distinguished Service Star (DSS), Command Medal, Field Command Medal, Distinguished Service Order (Liberia), Pass Staff College (psc), Fellow Defence College (fdc), Foreign Assistance Training Medal, and the highly coveted Purple Heart Medal for gallantry in counter-insurgency operations in North-East Nigeria.
A devoted family man, he is married to Hajia Safiyyah Hassan, and the union is blessed with two children, Haneef and Hafeeza.
As he assumes command as the 25th Chief of Army Staff, Major General Waidi Shaibu is expected to infuse renewed vigour, strategic foresight, and operational audacity into the Nigerian Army’s transformation drive. His leadership is anticipated to consolidate ongoing reforms, strengthen synergy in joint operations, deepen intelligence-led warfare, and accelerate innovation in defence technology, logistics, and human capacity development.
His appointment underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to building a combat-ready, disciplined, and people-focused Army, capable of decisively confronting emerging security challenges and upholding Nigeria’s pride and honour in peace and war.
