Major General Waidi Shaibu was appointed the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday, October 24, 2025, in a significant shake-up of the nation’s military high command.
His elevation to the highest position in the Nigerian Army followed a distinguished career, most recently marked by his strategic command as the Theatre Commander of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation Hadin Kai. His appointment reflects a commitment to leveraging his extensive operational experience and intellectual depth in prosecuting the nation’s security campaigns.
Early Life and Education
Born on December 18, 1971, in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, Major General Shaibu began his journey into military service in 1989 as a member of the 41 Regular Course at the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna. He was commissioned on September 17, 1994, as a Second Lieutenant into the Nigerian Army Armour Corps.
The General is a highly credentialed academic, holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Nigerian Defence Academy (1993). His post-graduate academic achievements include a Post Graduate Certificate in Public Administration from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Calabar, and a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan.Further strengthening his strategic background, he holds a Master’s Degree in Security and Strategic Studies from the National Defence University, Washington, D.C., USA. He is also an alumnus of the renowned Harvard Kennedy School of Government Programme in Leadership for the 21st Century and is currently pursuing a PhD in Strategic Studies at the University of Ibadan.
Military Courses and Operational Experience
Major General Shaibu has attended an array of military courses both at home and abroad, which shaped his expertise in armoured and counter-terrorism warfare. These include the Young Officer Courses (Armour and Infantry), Junior and Senior Staff Courses in Ghana and Jaji, respectively, the Higher Defence Management Course at the National Defense College, Abuja, and the Counter-Terrorism Fellows Programme at the College of International Security Affairs in Washington, DC, USA.
His operational experience is extensive, featuring frontline command and contributions to major campaigns. He participated in several domestic operations such as Operation HARMONY, Operation BOYONA, Operation ZAMAN LAFIYA, Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Operation TURA TAKAIBANGO, Operation HADIN KAI, and Operation DESERT and LAKE SANITY. His international service includes participation in the African Mission in Sudan and the United Nations Mission in Liberia, as well as Nigeria’s Foreign Training Assistance Mission to Liberia.
Key Appointments
Over his illustrious career, he has held numerous command, instructional, and staff appointments, demonstrating versatility and leadership across various military institutions. Notable positions include:
- Platoon Commander 245 Recce Battalion.
- Chief of Staff, 23 Brigade Headquarters, Yola.
- Commanding Officer 243 Battalion Monguno.
- Chief Instructor, Nigeria Army Armour School.
- Director Coordination and Directing Staff, National Defence College, Abuja.
- Commander 21 Special Armoured Brigade Bama.
- General Officer Commanding 7 Divisions and Commander Sector 1 Operation HADIN KAI.
- Director of Defence Admin DSA.
- Theatre Commander JTF (NE) OP HADIN KAI.
- Prior to his elevation as COAS, he was serving as the Director of Armour Research, Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre.
Honours and Awards
The General has been decorated with numerous honours, including the Distinguished Service Star (DSS), Distinguished Service Order (DSO LR), and the Foreign Training Assistance Medal (FTAM). Significantly, he is a recipient of the Purple Heart Medal for Counter Insurgency Operation in North East, alongside the Field Command Medal (FCM)and Field Command Medal of Honour (FCMH), which attest to his valor and leadership in combat. He is also a proud Member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (MNIM).
Personal Life
Major General Waidi Shaibu is happily married and the union is blessed with children. He maintains an intellectual and reflective personal life, with hobbies listed as reading, early morning walks, and deep contemplation.
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