Acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General, signaling that his position is set to be made substantive.
Last Wednesday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the exercise of his office as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, had approved the appointment with Presidential Spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga saying that “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 coursemates 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. 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.”
Sources confirmed that the formal decoration ceremony of the Acting COAS with the rank of Lieutenant General already took place at the Presidential Villa, Abuja and that it was attended by senior military and government officials.
Though the promotion signals imminent restructuring of Nigerian Army’s leadership, the ultimate status of General Lagbaja is still cloudy. Yet, a source hinted that an official statement addressing General Lagbaja’s situation is expected later today.
