The Acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Olufemi Oluyede, will officially assume duties today, Friday November 1, 2024 as the Nigerian Army awaits the return of the indisposed Leiutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja
The brief resumption ceremony is expected to hold this morning at the Defence Headquarters, located in Area 7 Garki, Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Oluyede was appointed by President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday in acting capacity pending General Lagbaja’s return from what Military sources described as ‘temporary sick leave’.
Forefront News notes that Oluyede’s appointment came just days after the Defence Headquarters had claimed that having an acting Chief of Army Staff was alien to it based on the Harmonised Armed Forces Act.
Specifically, the Military has explained that the Chief of Policy and Plans, Abdulsalam Ibrahim, a Major-General, was already providing routine briefs to the indisposed COAS, Lt.-Gen Lagbaja.
But in a surprise formal notice signed by Group Captain Chris Erondu, on behalf of the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, the Military said the handover ceremony would be held today morning by 10 O’clock.
The statement released late on Thursday, October 31, 2024, read in part; “The formal taking over ceremony of the newly appointed acting Chief of Army Staff, Major General Olufemi Oluyede is scheduled for tomorrow.”
Recalled that the statement announcing the appointment of Major General Oluyede by President Bola Tinubu as the acting Chief of Army Staff stated thus; “Oluyede will act in the position pending the return of the indisposed substantive Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja”.
Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, said in the statement titled; “President Tinubu appoints Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as acting Chief of Army Staff” that until his appointment, Oluyede served as the 56th Commander of the elite Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army, based in Jaji, Kaduna.
The 56-year-old Oluyede and Lagbaja were coursemates and members of the 39th Regular Course. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1992, effective from 1987 and rose to Major-General in September 2020.
Holding many command positions since his commissioning as an officer, Oluyede was Platoon Commander and adjutant at 65 Battalion; Company Commander at 177 Guards Battalion; Staff Officer Guards Brigade; and Commandant Amphibious Training School.
He participated in several operations, including the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group 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 COAS has earned many honours for his meritorious service in various fields of operations. These include the Corps Medal of Honour, the Grand Service Star, Passing the Staff Course, and Membership in the National Institute.
Others include the Field Command Medal, the Field Command Medal of Honour, and the Field Training Medal.
Married with three Children, Major General Oluyede has also received the coveted Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award.
