President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on October 24, 2025, appointed General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as Nigeria’s new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), succeeding General Christopher Musa.
The appointment is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the nation’s defence leadership and enhance operational effectiveness across the Armed Forces.
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The new Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede, brings vast experience in military command, operational strategy, and peacekeeping to his new role, following a distinguished career spanning nearly four decades in the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Background and Early Life
He was born in 1968 and hails from Ikere, Ekiti State, Southwest Nigeria.
He is widely respected for his professionalism, discipline, and commitment to duty, which have earned him recognition both within and outside the Nigerian military establishment.
Military Career
A member of the 39th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), General Oluyede was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1992 (retroactive to 1987).
Since then, he has held several key command, instructional, and staff appointments, including;
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Platoon Commander, 65 Battalion
Company Commander, 177 Guards Battalion
Staff Officer, Guards Brigade
Commandant, Amphibious Training School
Commander, 27 Task Force Brigade, where he led counter-insurgency operations in the North East under Operation HADIN KAI
He has also served in international peacekeeping missions, notably with the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) in Liberia and Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi.
Education and Training
General Oluyede is an alumnus of the prestigious Staff Course and a Member of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Nigeria’s apex policy think tank.
His training and experience have strengthened his capacity for operational planning, defence administration, and strategic policy formulation.
Honours and Awards
Promoted to the rank of Major General in September 2020, General Oluyede has earned several honours and decorations in recognition of his distinguished service, including;
Corps Medal of Honour
Grand Service Star
Field Command Medal
Field Training Medal
Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award
Current Role
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As Chief of Defence Staff, General Oluyede is charged with coordinating the strategic operations of the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force.
He is expected to drive synergy among the services, strengthen joint operations, and enhance the nation’s defence architecture to address emerging security challenges.
