Tinubu Decorates acting COAS, Major Gen. Oluyede, as Lt. General

The acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Olufemi Oluyede, has been decorated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with a higher rank of Lieutenant General.

This is an indication that he may be appointed the substantive head of the Army in the place of the current COAS, Lt-Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, who is currently battling cancer in a foreign hospital.

Channels Television revealed this in a report on Tuesday, quoting Aso Rock Presidential Villa sources.

Oluyede’s promotion from Major General to Lieutenant General came days after he was named acting COAS by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had, on October 30, 2024, announced Oluyede’s appointment a week after the rumoured death of Lt-Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, a claim the  Defence Headquarters vigorously debunked, saying the COAS was on medical leave but in critical but stable condition.

“Oluyede will act in the position pending the return of the indisposed substantive Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja,” Onanuga had announced in a statement.

Before his appointment as acting COAS, Oluyede, 56, had served as the 56th Commander of the elite Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army, based in Jaji, Kaduna. He was Lagbaja’s course mate at the Nigerian Defence Academy, both of them being members of the 39th Regular Course.

Oluyede was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1992, effective from 1987, and rose to Major General in September 2020.

Since his commissioning as an officer, he has held many command positions, among them serving as Platoon Commander and adjutant at 65 Battalion; Company Commander at 177 Guards Battalion; Staff Officer Guards Brigade; Commandant Amphibious Training School, among others.

General Oluyede has also 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 the 27 Task Force Brigade.

He has earned many honours for his meritorious service in various fields of operations, including: the Corps Medal of Honour, the Grand Service Star, Passing the Staff Course, and Membership in the National Institute.