President Bola Tinubu has appointed Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as the acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
This announcement was made on Wednesday by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga.
General Oluyede steps into the role while awaiting the return of Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, who is currently receiving treatment abroad. The statement from the presidency clarified that Oluyede will act as COAS until Lagbaja is fit to return.
Before this appointment, Oluyede served as the 56th Commander of the Nigerian Army’s elite Infantry Corps, based in Jaji, Kaduna.
At 56 years old, he and Lagbaja are coursemates from the 39th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy. Oluyede was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1992, having started his military career in 1987, and he achieved the rank of Major General in September 2020.
Throughout his career, General Oluyede has held numerous key positions, including Platoon Commander and Adjutant at the 65 Battalion, Company Commander at the 177 Guards Battalion, and Commandant of the Amphibious Training School. He has actively participated in various military operations, including the ECOMOG Mission in Liberia, Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi, and Operation HADIN KAI in the North East, where he commanded the 27 Task Force Brigade.
General Oluyede’s service has been recognized with multiple honors, including the Corps Medal of Honour, the Grand Service Star, and Membership in the National Institute, reflecting his commitment and contributions to the Nigerian Army.
