President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Major General Waidi Shaibu as the 25th Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of the Nigerian Army.
The announcement marks a significant leadership change in the nation’s military hierarchy. Maj. Gen. Shaibu succeeds Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, who has been elevated to the position of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
Described as a “battle-hardened commander and strategic thinker,” Maj. Gen. Shaibu brings extensive counter-insurgency experience to the role, having most recently served as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division and Commander of Sector 1, Operation HADIN KAI, in Maiduguri.
Born in 1971 in Kogi State, Shaibu was admitted to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in 1989 as a member of the 41 Regular Course and was commissioned into the Nigerian Army Armoured Corps in 1994.
A “consummate scholar-warrior,” the new Army Chief holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the NDA, a Master’s in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan, and a Master’s in Security and Strategic Studies from the National Defence University in Washington D.C., USA. He is also an alumnus of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Throughout his distinguished career, Maj. Gen. Shaibu has held several key strategic and command positions, including:
- Chief of Training, Army Headquarters
- Brigade Commander, 21 Special Armoured Brigade, Bama
- Director, Coordination, National Defence College
- Commanding Officer, 243 Battalion, Monguno
His operational footprint covers key military engagements in Nigeria, including Operations LAFIYA DOLE, TURA TAKAIBANGO, and HADIN KAI. Internationally, he has served with the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and the African Mission in Sudan (AMIS).
Maj. Gen. Shaibu is a recipient of numerous honours, including the Distinguished Service Star (DSS) and the coveted Purple Heart Medal for gallantry in counter-insurgency operations in North-East Nigeria.
As he assumes command, Maj. Gen. Shaibu is expected to “infuse renewed vigour” and “strategic foresight” into the Army’s operations. His appointment is seen as a move to consolidate ongoing reforms and accelerate efforts to “decisively confront emerging security challenges” facing the nation.
He is married to Hajia Safiyyah Hassan, and the union is blessed with two children.
