Acting COAS Assumes Duty Today

The acting Chief of Army Staff, Maj Gen Olufemi Oluyede, will assume duties today, November 1, 2024.

President Bola Tinubu appointed Acting Army Chief Oluyede on Wednesday pending the return of the indisposed substantive Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja.

His appointment came days after the Defence Headquarters claimed the appointment of an acting Chief of Army Staff was alien to its ‘Harmonised Armed Forces Act.’

The DHQ stated in a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Brig Gen Tukur Gusau, on October 21 that no such appointment exists within the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

The rebuttal came after several reports citing an aide to former president Good Luck Jonathan, Jackson Ude, claimed Lagbaja had died of cancer.

Reacting to the post on X, the Nigerian Army marked it as fake news.

However, Group Captain Chris Erondu signed a notice on behalf of the Director of Defence Information, Brig Gen Tukur Gusau, stating that the handover ceremony would be held at the Defence Headquarters conference room at 10 am.