Lagbaja’s ailment: Tinubu appoints acting chief of army staff

The Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has appointed Major-General Olufemi Oluyede as an Acting Chief of Army Staff pending the return of the indisposed substantive army chief, Taoreed Lagbaja who is said to remain indisposed.

Penpushing reports that Special Adviser to the President on (Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga made this known in a statement on Wednesday, however, suggested that Lagbaja’s absence may last for a while.

‘President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has appointed Major General Olufemi Oluyede as the acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS).  Oluyede will act in the position pending the return of the indisposed substantive Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja’, the statement reads.

Penpushing further reports that the 56-year-old Oluyode until his appointment served as the 56th Commander of the Elite Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army, based in Jaji, Kaduna, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1992, effective from 1987, rose to Major-General in September 2020.

The appointed acting Chief of Army Staff was course mate of Lagbaja and member of the 39th Regular Course, while he has held many command positions since his commissioning as an officer and was Platoon Commander and adjutant at 65 Battalion, Company Commander at 177 Guards Battalion, Staff Officer Guards Brigade, Commandant Amphibious Training School.

Penpushing also reports that Oluyede, married and father of three children participated in several operations, including the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) Mission in Liberia, Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi, and Operation HADIN KAI in the North East theatre of operations, where he commanded 27 Task Force Brigade.

The Acting Army Chief of Staff has earned many honours for his meritorious service in various fields of operations, and these include the Corps Medal of Honour, the Grand Service Star, Passing the Staff Course, and Membership in the National Institute, as well as Field Command Medal, the Field Command Medal of Honour, and the Field Training Medal, and equally received the coveted Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award.

Penpushing reports that it is recalled that Lagbaja has been indisposed for a few weeks and has been reportedly receiving treatment abroad, but the army authorities claimed that he was on leave and that his absence did not leave any vacuum in the supervision of the army.

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