President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has appointed Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as the acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS). Oluyede will assume this role temporarily while Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, the substantive Chief of Army Staff, is on medical leave.
Until this appointment, the 56-year-old Oluyede was the 56th Commander of the elite Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army in Jaji, Kaduna. He and Lagbaja share a longstanding professional history, both being members of the 39th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy. Commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1992, with a retroactive service date of 1987, Oluyede achieved the rank of Major General in September 2020.
Over his distinguished career, Oluyede has held various commanding positions, including as Platoon Commander, Company Commander, and Commandant at the Amphibious Training School. His service record is marked by significant contributions to several key military operations, such as the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) 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 service, Oluyede has earned numerous honors, including the Corps Medal of Honour, Grand Service Star, and the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award, among others.
Oluyede is married with three children, and his appointment comes at a crucial time as Nigeria continues to face various security challenges across the country.
