President Bola Tinubu has promoted the acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Olufemi Oluyede, to the rank of Lieutenant General.
The promotion, confirmed by sources within the Presidential Villa, comes just days after Oluyede’s appointment as acting army chief.
Should the Senate give its final approval, Oluyede would formally assume the role of Chief of Army Staff, succeeding Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.
Oluyede’s appointment was announced on October 30, 2024, by Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, following unconfirmed reports regarding Lagbaja’s health. The Defence Headquarters quickly clarified these rumors, explaining that Lagbaja is currently on leave, with Oluyede temporarily filling the position.
Before his promotion, Oluyede led as the 56th Commander of the elite Infantry Corps in Jaji, Kaduna. His military journey began with his commissioning as a second lieutenant in 1992, retroactively effective from 1987, and he attained the rank of Major General in September 2020. Over his career, he has served in various key roles, from Platoon Commander at 65 Battalion to Commandant at the Amphibious Training School.
Oluyede’s extensive service record includes operations with the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) in Liberia, Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi, and Operation HADIN KAI in Nigeria’s Northeast. For his commitment, he has earned distinguished awards such as the Corps Medal of Honour, the Grand Service Star, and Membership in the National Institute.
