The appointment of Major General Waidi Shaibu as the 25th Chief of Army Staff (COAS) marks a defining phase in the ongoing transformation of the Nigerian Army—a transition anchored on professionalism, operational efficiency, and renewed commitment to defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Approved by the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, General Shaibu’s elevation comes as Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede assumes the position of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).
Born on 18 December 1971 in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, Major General Shaibu embodies the rare blend of tactical acumen and academic depth that defines modern military leadership. He was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in 1989 as a member of 41 Regular Course, and was commissioned into the Nigerian Army Armoured Corps on 17 September 1994, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the NDA, Kaduna.
Determined to expand his intellectual horizon, General Shaibu pursued a Postgraduate Certificate in Public Administration at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), before earning multiple advanced degrees: 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—credentials that reinforce his profile as a thinking soldier and transformational leader.
Throughout his career, Major General Shaibu has attended a wide range of professional and command courses both locally and internationally. 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 (NDC), 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.
An officer with extensive field experience, General Shaibu’s leadership has been tested across diverse command, instructional, and policy roles, including:
General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division / 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
- Commanding Officer, 243 Battalion, Monguno
- Chief of Staff, 23 Brigade, Yola
His international service includes appointments as Military Assistant to the Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of Liberia, and as Military Observer with the African Mission in Sudan (AMIS).
Major General Shaibu’s operational footprint spans major military operations both at home and abroad. He has played key roles in Operations HARMONY, BOYONA, ZAMAN LAFIYA, LAFIYA DOLE, TURA TAKAIBANGO, HADIN KAI, DESERT SANITY, and LAKE SANITY, among others.
Internationally, he 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.
His leadership in counter-insurgency operations has been marked by courage, tactical innovation, and deep understanding of asymmetric warfare—earning him recognition as one of the Army’s most versatile and respected commanders.
As the 25th Chief of Army Staff, Major General Waidi Shaibu steps into a role that demands both resolve and reform. His leadership is expected to drive the Nigerian Army’s ongoing transformation agenda—anchored on joint force synergy, intelligence-led warfare, technological innovation, and human capacity development.
Under his command, the Nigerian Army is poised to consolidate counter-terrorism successes, enhance civil-military relations, and strengthen the nation’s defence posture through disciplined, adaptive, and professional soldiering.
A devout and focused officer, Major General Waidi Shaibu is married to Hajia Safiyyah Hassan, and their union is blessed with two children, Haneef and Hafeeza.
Despite the demands of military life, he remains deeply committed to family, faith, and service—qualities that continue to shape his leadership ethos.
With his depth of experience, intellectual grounding, and battlefield-tested resolve, Major General Shaibu’s appointment represents a new chapter for the Nigerian Army—one defined by courage, strategy, and the pursuit of excellence in service to the nation.
 marks a defining phase in the ongoing transformation of the Nigerian Army—a transition anchored on professionalism, operational efficiency, and renewed commitment to defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.){kind=link}