President Tinubu Appoints Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as Acting Chief of Army Staff

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as the Acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS), stepping in temporarily while Taoreed Lagbaja, the current COAS, is on medical leave.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, released a statement confirming that Oluyede will hold the position until Lagbaja returns. Recently, speculation regarding Lagbaja’s health has grown, with unverified reports claiming he had passed away, although military officials have publicly refuted this. According to the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Lagbaja is “hale and hearty” and currently on his annual leave abroad.

Profile of Major General Oluyede

Before this appointment, Major General Oluyede served as the 56th Commander of the Nigerian Army’s Infantry Corps in Kaduna. Commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1992, he rose to the rank of major general by September 2020. A coursemate of Lagbaja and a graduate of the 39th Regular Course, Oluyede has contributed to numerous military operations, including the ECOMOG mission in Liberia, Operation Harmony IV in Bakassi, and Operation Hadin Kai in Nigeria’s northeast. He also led the 27 Task Force Brigade.

General Oluyede’s extensive experience positions him to guide the Nigerian Army effectively during this interim period.