On October 24, 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Major General Waidi Shaibu as Nigeria’s new Chief of Army Staff.
The appointment follows his distinguished service as the Theatre Commander of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation Hadin Kai, where he demonstrated exceptional leadership and strategic expertise in counter-insurgency operations.
Born on 18 December 1971 in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, Major General Shaibu was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) as a member of the 41 Regular Course in 1989. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant into the Nigerian Army Armour Corps on 17 September 1994.
Academic Qualifications
Major General Shaibu holds several academic and professional qualifications, including;
- B.Sc. Mechanical Engineering, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna (1993)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Public Administration, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration
- M.Sc. Public Administration, University of Calabar
- M.Sc. Strategic Studies, University of Ibadan
- M.Sc. Security and Strategic Studies, National Defence University, Washington D.C., USA
- Alumnus, Harvard Kennedy School of Government Programme in Leadership for the 21st Century: Chaos, Conflict and Courage
- Advanced Executive Certificate in Applied Leadership and Strategy, National Productivity Senior Executive Programme
- Ph.D. in Strategic Studies (in view), University of Ibadan
Military Courses Attended
Major General Shaibu has attended several professional and leadership courses both within and outside Nigeria, including;
- Young Officers and Platoon Commanders Courses, Nigerian Army Armour School, Bauchi
- Young Officers Course, Infantry, Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji
- Company Amphibious Operation Course, Amphibious Training School, Calabar
- Junior Staff Course, Ghana
- Company Commander’s and Battalion Commander’s Courses, Bauchi
- Senior Staff Course, Jaji
- Defence Resources Management Course, Kenya
- Higher Defence Management Course, National Defence College, Abuja
- Counter Terrorism Fellows Programme, College of International Security Affairs, Washington D.C., USA
Operational Experience
Major General Shaibu has participated in numerous local and international operations, including;
- Operation Harmony
- Operation Boyona
- Operation Zaman Lafiya
- Operation Lafiya Dole
- Operation Tura Takaibango
- Operation Hadin Kai
- Operation Desert and Lake Sanity
- African Mission in Sudan
- United Nations Mission in Liberia
- Nigeria’s Foreign Training Assistance Mission to Liberia
Appointments Held
Over the course of his distinguished career, the Major General Shaibu has held several command, instructional, and staff appointments such as;
- Platoon Commander, 245 Recce Battalion
- ADC to the General Officer Commanding 3 Division
- Principal Staff Officer/Military Assistant to the Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of Liberia
- Chief of Staff, 23 Brigade Headquarters, Yola
- Chief Instructor, Nigerian Army Armour School
- Assistant Director, Peacekeeping Operations, Defence Headquarters
- Director, Coordination and Directing Staff, National Defence College, Abuja
- Commander, 21 Special Armoured Brigade, Bama
- Acting Chief of Training, Army Headquarters
- General Officer Commanding, 7 Division/Commander, Sector 1 Operation Hadin Kai
- Director of Defence Administration, Defence Space Administration
- Current Appointment: Director of Armour Research, Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre (since 22 April 2025)
Honours and Awards
Major General Waidi Shaibu is a highly decorated officer with several honours, including:
- Distinguished Service Star (DSS)
- Distinguished Service Order (DSO-LR)
- Foreign Training Assistance Medal (FTAM)
- Pass Staff College (psc)
- Fellow, National Defence College Dagger (+)
- Command Medal (CM)
- Purple Heart Medal (Counter-Insurgency Operations, North East)
- Field Command Medal (FCM)
- Field Command Medal of Honour (FCMH)
- General Operations Medal (GOM)
- Defence Operations Medal (DOM)
He is also a Member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (MNIM).
Personal Life
Major General Waidi Shaibu enjoys reading, early morning walks, and deep contemplation.
He is happily married and blessed with children.