President Tinubu Appoints Acting COAS

By Ayodele Oni and Adesina Soyooye

President Bola Tinubu, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces has appointed an Acting Chief of Army Staff, COAS. He is Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede.

Major General Oluyede will act for Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, who is  on Medical Leave.

(This was contained in a statement on Wednesday by the Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has appointed Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as the acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS),” the statement read.

“Oluyede will act in the position pending the return of the indisposed substantive Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun 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 course mates and members of the 39th Regular Course.

He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1992, effective from 1987. He rose to Major-General in September 2020.

Oluyede 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.

Last week, the Army, when the Social Media carried the story that the Chief of Plans and Policy had been appointed the Acting COAS, had vehemently denied such an appointment, and compared it to  treasonable felony.

In a statement, the Army said the Chief would be back very soon.

Oluyede’s appointment puts a lie to the claims by the Army.

Lagbaja is, allegedly, dealing with a cancer-related health challenge.