President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has approved the appointment of Major General Waidi Shaibu as the 25th Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
General Shaibu succeeds Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, who has been elevated to serve as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Armed Forces of Nigeria.
A seasoned officer, astute strategist, and decorated commander, Major General Shaibu’s emergence signals a new phase in the ongoing transformation of the Nigerian Army, anchored on enhanced professionalism, combat readiness, and unwavering dedication to safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Born on December 18, 1971, in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, General Shaibu joined the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) as part of the 41 Regular Course in 1989 and was commissioned into the Armoured Corps on September 17, 1994. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the NDA, Kaduna.
An accomplished scholar-soldier, Shaibu also holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Public Administration from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. His academic credentials include a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Calabar, a Master’s in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan, and another Master’s in Security and Strategic Studies from the National Defence University, Washington D.C., USA. He is an alumnus of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and the National Productivity Centre’s Senior Executive Programme in Applied Leadership and Strategy.
Throughout his illustrious career, General Shaibu has completed numerous professional courses within and outside Nigeria. These include 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 trained at the Defence Resources Management Course in Kenya and the Counter-Terrorism Fellows Programme at the National Defence University, Washington D.C.
Major General Shaibu has held several key command, instructional, and staff appointments that demonstrate his operational depth and leadership acumen. Notable among these are 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 of 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 has also served internationally as Military Assistant to the Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of Liberia, and as a Military Observer with the African Mission in Sudan.
General Shaibu’s operational experience covers major internal and external missions, including Operations HARMONY, BOYONA, ZAMAN LAFIYA, LAFIYA DOLE, TURA TAKAIBANGO, HADIN KAI, DESERT SANITY, and LAKE SANITY. He has also participated in international peace operations such as the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and the African Mission in Sudan (AMIS), as well as Nigeria’s Foreign Training Assistance Mission to Liberia.
In recognition of his distinguished service and bravery, Major General Shaibu has been decorated with several medals and honours, 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 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 they are blessed with two children, Haneef and Hafeeza.
As he assumes the leadership of the Nigerian Army as its 25th Chief of Army Staff, Major General Waidi Shaibu is expected to bring renewed strategic vision, operational innovation, and administrative discipline to the service. His appointment is anticipated to consolidate ongoing reforms, foster stronger inter-service collaboration, and advance intelligence-driven military operations, technology adoption, and capacity building.
