President Bola Tinubu has appointed Major General Olufemi Oluyede as the Acting Chief of Army Staff. This decision was communicated on Wednesday by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, who stated that Oluyede will assume the role until the return of Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, currently receiving medical treatment abroad.
In the official statement, Onanuga declared, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has named Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as the acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS). Oluyede will serve in this position pending the return of the indisposed substantive Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.”
Before this new appointment, Major General Oluyede served as the 56th Commander of the elite Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army, stationed in Jaji, Kaduna. At 56, he shares a notable history with Lagbaja, both having been commissioned as officers from the 39th Regular Course in 1987, with Oluyede attaining the rank of Major General in September 2020.
Throughout his military career, Oluyede has held various command positions, beginning as a Platoon Commander and Adjutant at the 65 Battalion. He has progressed to roles such as Company Commander at the 177 Guards Battalion, Staff Officer at the Guards Brigade, and Commandant of the Amphibious Training School.
Oluyede has been actively involved in several significant military operations, including the ECOMOG Mission in Liberia, Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi, and Operation HADIN KAI in the Northeast, where he commanded the 27 Task Force Brigade. His extensive service has earned him numerous accolades, including the Corps Medal of Honour, the Grand Service Star, recognition for excelling in the Staff Course, and Membership in the National Institute, highlighting his commitment and contributions to the Nigerian Army.
