Lt.-Gen. Oluyede Assumes Role As Chief Of Army Staff

The Nigerian Army officially transitioned to new leadership on Monday with the symbolic lowering and hoisting of the command flag at Army Headquarters, marking the assumption of Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede as the 24th Chief of Army Staff (COAS).

Oluyede’s appointment followed the tragic death of his predecessor, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, and was approved by President Bola Tinubu on October 30 in an acting capacity. His position was later confirmed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the ceremonial event, held in Abuja, represents a longstanding military tradition symbolizing the formal transfer of authority. This comes after the unusual presentation of Oluyede’s insignia of office by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, on November 1.

Before his elevation, Lt.-Gen. Oluyede served as the 56th Commander of the elite Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army, headquartered in Jaji, Kaduna. A veteran of numerous military operations, he has played a pivotal role in enhancing the operational capabilities of the Nigerian Army.

Aged 56, Oluyede is a distinguished graduate of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and a member of the 39th Regular Course alongside his late predecessor. Commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1992, with a retroactive effective date of 1987, he achieved the rank of Major General in September 2020.

As the new Chief of Army Staff, Oluyede inherits significant security challenges, including counterinsurgency efforts in the North-East, combating banditry in the North-West, and addressing other critical threats across the country.

The ceremony signals the beginning of a new chapter for the Nigerian Army under Lt.-Gen. Oluyede’s leadership, with expectations of strategic advancements in addressing Nigeria’s complex security landscape.

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