The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, 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 18th 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.
Others include the 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.
About The Author
