President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) in an acting capacity.
Oluyede’s appointment as Acting Chief of Army Staff follows the continuous absence of Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, who is said to be on leave.
Rumours had emerged that Chief of Army Staff Lagbaja died of cancer in an undisclosed hospital abroad. However, the Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu has debunked the rumours. Major General Nwachukwu was quoted to have said in a statement that that the COAS was on leave and also attending to his health outside the country. The Chief of Army Staff was said to be hale and hearty and that he will soon resume normal duties at the end of his leave.
The appointment of Major General Oluyede as Acting Chief of Army Staff is expected to fill the vacuum left due to the continuous absence of Lagbaja, whose current state of health is not known to the public. According to a statement on Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Tinubu, Oluyede will act in the position of Chief of Army Staff pending the return of Lagbaja.
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.
Oluyede was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1992, effective from 1987. He rose to Major-General in September 2020. He has held many commands since his commissioning as an officer. He was Platoon Commander and adjutant at 65 Battalion, Company Commander at 177 Guards Battalion, Staff Officer Guards Brigade, Commandant Amphibious Training School.
General Oluyede 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.
Oluyede 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 are the Field Command Medal, the Field Command Medal of Honour, and the Field Training Medal. Oluyede also received the coveted Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award. He is married and has three children.