President Bola Tinubu has named Major General Olufemi Oluyede as the temporary Chief of Army Staff, stepping in while the current Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, undergoes medical treatment.
This was revealed in a statement by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday evening.
Oluyede, 56, has a strong background in military leadership. Prior to this role, he served as the 56th Commander of the Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army, based in Jaji, Kaduna.
He and Lagbaja were both members of the 39th Regular Course, and Oluyede was commissioned in 1992. He rose to the rank of Major-General in 2020.
Throughout his career, Oluyede has held key roles such as Platoon Commander, Company Commander, and Staff Officer. His service record includes participation in missions like the ECOWAS peacekeeping mission in Liberia, Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi, and Operation HADIN KAI in Nigeria’s northeast, where he commanded the 27 Task Force Brigade.
Recognized for his dedication, Oluyede has earned several awards, including the Corps Medal of Honour, Grand Service Star, and Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award. He is married and has three children.
Recently, the Nigerian Army and Defence Headquarters addressed rumors about Lagbaja’s health, debunking claims of his death. Brig Gen Tukur Gusau, Acting Director of Defence Information, confirmed that “there is no such appointment within the Armed Forces,” clarifying that Lagbaja remains alive and is receiving treatment abroad, as confirmed by sources within the Army Headquarters.
