Major General Olufemi Oluyede officially stepped into his new role as Acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS) in a formal handover ceremony at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
The event, held on Friday, was documented in a series of photographs shared on the Nigerian Defence’s official X.com page (formerly Twitter), showing Oluyede’s assumption of duties. The accompanying caption read: “Formal Taking Over Ceremony of the Acting Chief of Army Staff, Major General OO Oluyede.”
This message confirmed the official transition of responsibility from General Lagbaja to Major General Oluyede, reflecting the continuity and stability of the Nigerian Army’s leadership.
Major General Oluyede’s appointment came as an executive decision by President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday. The President’s directive positioned Oluyede as Acting COAS until General Lagbaja’s return to full duty.
Prior to this role, Oluyede was recognized for his leadership as the 56th Commander of the elite Infantry Corps, a crucial segment of the Nigerian Army headquartered in Jaji, Kaduna State.
At 56 years old, Major General Oluyede’s career has closely paralleled that of General Lagbaja. The two senior officers are coursemates from the 39th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy, an experience that has forged strong ties and mutual respect between them.
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