Major General Olufemi Oluyede has assumed office as Nigeria’s Acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS) at the Army Headquarters in Abuja on November 1, 2024, following his appointment by President Bola Tinubu.
Army spokesperson Major General Onyema Nwachukwu announced that Oluyede’s appointment comes as Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, the substantive COAS, takes medical leave abroad.
The Explainer had previously reported that Lagbaja has been indisposed for several weeks, though the army maintains his absence has not created any supervisory vacuum.
During the formal handover ceremony, Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa emphasized the appointment’s legitimacy: “The appointment aligns with the Armed Forces Act of 2004.”
He also reminded field commanders of President Tinubu’s security mandate, urging continued vigilance in protecting national security and civilian safety.
In his inaugural address, Oluyede expressed gratitude to President Tinubu: “I am thankful for finding me worthy of this appointment,”
while also wishing Lagbaja a swift recovery. The new acting COAS pledged his loyalty to the Commander-in-Chief and the Constitution while calling for nationwide support in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.
Major General Oluyede brings significant experience to his new role. As a member of the 39th Regular Combatant Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy, he was commissioned in 1992 and achieved the rank of Major General in September 2020.
His career includes service as the 56th Commander of the Infantry Corps and participation in crucial operations including ECOMOG, Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi, and Operation HADIN KAI in the Northeast.
The ceremony reached its climax with the symbolic handover of the Army Command flag from General Musa to the acting Chief of Army Staff, marking the formal transfer of authority.