President Bola Tinubu has appointed Major-General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as the acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement on Wednesday that Oluyede will act in the position pending the return of the indisposed Taoreed Lagbaja, the substantive COAS.
There have been speculations about the state health of Lagbaja, who the military headquarters said is abroad for medical treatment.
His continued absence has fuelled rumours that he had died, but the military authorities have denied the news.
The absence of the army chief had fueled rumours that he had died, which had been denied by army authorities.
Recently, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) denied reports that an acting COAS has been appointed to stand in for Lagbaja.
The DHQ had said Lagbaja is currently observing his annual leave and is “hale and hearty”.
Before his appointment, Oluyede served as the 56th commander of the infantry corps of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna.
He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1992 and rose to the position of major general in September 2020.
Oluyede and Lagbaja were coursemates and members of the 39th regular course.
He has 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.
He was also the commander of the 27 task force brigade.
