Oluyede becomes acting Chief of Army Staff

On Wednesday, October 30, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS). This appointment was announced in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, the presidential spokesperson. The decision to appoint Oluyede is temporary, as he will be acting in the role until the current Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, returns from receiving medical treatment abroad due to a reported health issue.

Prior to his new position, Oluyede served as the 56th Commander of the Infantry Corps, an elite branch of the Nigerian Army headquartered in Jaji, Kaduna State. Major General Oluyede, who is 56 years old, shares a long-standing professional history with Lagbaja; both men were classmates in the 39th Regular Course. Oluyede’s military career began when he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1992, with a retroactive rank effective from 1987. His steady rise in the ranks saw him attain the position of Major-General in September 2020.