Abuja, Nigeria – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as the acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS) in Nigeria. Oluyede takes on this role temporarily while the current Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, remains unavailable due to health reasons.
Until this appointment, Oluyede served as the 56th Commander of the Nigerian Army’s elite Infantry Corps in Jaji, Kaduna. With a military career spanning over three decades, the 56-year-old General Oluyede joined the Nigerian Army through the 39th Regular Course and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1992, retrospectively effective from 1987. He attained the rank of Major General in September 2020.
Oluyede has extensive operational experience, having served in multiple command positions, including Platoon Commander, Adjutant at 65 Battalion, and Company Commander at 177 Guards Battalion. He has also served as Commandant of the Amphibious Training School and Staff Officer of the Guards Brigade.
Throughout his career, General Oluyede participated in significant operations, such as the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) mission in Liberia, Operation Harmony IV in the Bakassi region, and Operation HADIN KAI in northeastern Nigeria. During Operation HADIN KAI, he led the 27 Task Force Brigade.
The new acting Chief of Army Staff has received numerous awards for his exemplary service, including the Corps Medal of Honour, Grand Service Star, Field Command Medal, and the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award. Oluyede is also a graduate of the National Institute, an institution for Nigeria’s most senior public and military officials.
General Oluyede is married with three children, and his appointment as acting COAS takes immediate effect.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Tinubu, announced the appointment.
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State House Press Release.
`President Tinubu appoints Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as acting Chief of Army Staff`
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 act in the position pending the return of the indisposed substantive Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.
Until his appointment, Oluyede served as the 56th Commander of the elite Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army, based in Jaji, Kaduna.
The 56-year-old Oluyede and Lagbaja were coursemates and members of the 39th Regular Course.
He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1992, effective from 1987. He rose to Major-General in September 2020.
Oluyede has held many commands since his commissioning as an officer. He was Platoon Commander and adjutant at 65 Battalion, Company Commander at 177 Guards Battalion, Staff Officer Guards Brigade, Commandant Amphibious Training School.
General Oluyede participated in several operations, including the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) Mission in Liberia, Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi, and Operation HADIN KAI in the North East theatre of operations, where he commanded 27 Task Force Brigade.
Oluyede has earned many honours for his meritorious service in various fields of operations. These include the Corps Medal of Honour, the Grand Service Star, Passing the Staff Course, and Membership in the National Institute.
Others are the Field Command Medal, the Field Command Medal of Honour, and the Field Training Medal.
Oluyede also received the coveted Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award.
He is married and has three children.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser Information and Strategy
To President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
