By George Ozalla
Lieutenant-General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede has formally assumed office as Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), stepping into the apex military leadership role at a critical juncture for the nation. His appointment, announced on 24 October 2025, comes in the wake of a comprehensive shake-up of the nation’s military command, following the death of his predecessor and former Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.
Born in 1968 in Ikere, Ekiti State, Oluyede’s military journey began at the Nigerian Defence Academy, where he was a member of the 39th Regular Course. Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1992, he has since held an array of operational and administrative positions, ranging from Platoon Commander and Adjutant at the 65 Battalion, to Company Commander at 177 Guards Battalion, Staff Officer in the Guards Brigade, and Commandant of the Amphibious Training School.
Oluyede’s operational career is marked by deployments in challenging theatres. He served with the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) in Liberia, participated in Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi, and commanded the 27 Task Force Brigade in Nigeria’s North East under Operation HADIN KAI. These experiences have equipped him with a hands-on understanding of Nigeria’s complex security environment.
Promoted to Major General in September 2020, Oluyede became Chief of Army Staff on 30 October 2024 before his elevation to CDS. In his new capacity, he now oversees the coordination of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, setting strategic direction for Nigeria’s military operations and defence policy. His appointment signals an intent by the civilian leadership under President Bola Tinubu to refresh top-level military command with officers possessing operational experience and practical credibility.
Nigeria’s security landscape is fraught with challenges. Insurgency persists in the North-East, banditry continues to destabilise the North-West, and separatist tensions simmer in the South-East. Oluyede’s prior experience in high-stakes operational commands positions him to bring both strategic insight and practical solutions to these multi-dimensional threats. Analysts note that his command philosophy, which emphasizes a “well-motivated, combat-ready force” capable of multi-agency operations, could influence the modernization and operational effectiveness of the armed forces.
While expectations are high, observers caution that Oluyede’s tenure will depend not only on his personal leadership but also on systemic reforms across logistics, intelligence integration, inter-service coordination, troop welfare, and civil-military relations. The CDS role is pivotal, yet it is part of a broader national framework that requires institutional alignment and sustained political support to deliver meaningful security outcomes.
Oluyede is married with three children and has received multiple national military honours, including the Corps Medal of Honour, Grand Service Star, Field Command Medal of Honour, Field Training Medal, and the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award. His versatile background, spanning infantry, amphibious, and multi-domain operations, reflects a leader capable of navigating both conventional and complex security operations.
As Lt-Gen Olufemi Oluyede steps into this formidable leadership role, the nation watches closely. His tenure represents both continuity, as a seasoned career officer, and a potential pivot toward operationally credible, strategically integrated military leadership — a leadership tasked with safeguarding a country at a decisive moment in its security trajectory.
