President Bola Tinubu has appointed Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as acting Chief of Army Staff, following the extended absence of General Taoreed Lagbaja, who has been away for some time receiving medical care in the United States,Daily Trust reports.
In a statement on Wednesday, Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, announced that Oluyede would oversee the Army’s operations until Lagbaja’s return.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has named Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS),” the statement said. “Oluyede will serve in this capacity pending the return of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.”
Prior to this appointment, Oluyede served as the 56th Commander of the Infantry Corps in Jaji, Kaduna. Both Oluyede, aged 56, and Lagbaja attended the 39th Regular Course and were commissioned as second lieutenants in 1992, with ranks retroactive to 1987. Oluyede achieved the rank of Major-General in September 2020.
Throughout his career, Oluyede has held various key positions, including Platoon Commander, adjutant of the 65 Battalion, Company Commander at the 177 Guards Battalion, Staff Officer in the Guards Brigade, and Commandant of the Amphibious Training School. He is married and has three children.
