Oluyede assumes command as 24th chief of army staff
A lieutenant general Olufemi Oluyede has officially assumed command as the 24th chief of army staff (COAS)after confirmation of the National Assembly.
The Nigerian Army on Monday performed a symbolic lowering and hoisting of the command flag at Army Headquarters in honour of the newly appointed army chief.
It would be recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on October 30, 2024, appointed Oluyede in an acting capacity following the death of his predecessor, Taoreed Lagbaja, a lieutenant general.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Christopher Musa, a general, had on 1 November, handed him the insignia of office in an unusual fashion in line with the Armed Forces Act.
Oluyede was until his appointment, the 56th Commander of the elite Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army, based in Jaji, Kaduna.
The 56-year-old Oluyede and Lagbaja were coursemates and members of the 39th Regular Course of the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA).
He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1992, effective from 1987 and rose to the rank of major general in September 2020.
Who is Oluyede, the new army chief who succeeded the late Lagbaja
Lieutenant General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede (born 1968) is a senior Nigerian Army officer currently serving as the Acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of Nigeria. He was appointed to the role by President Bola Tinubu, temporarily filling the position during the indisposition of Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja. Before this, Oluyede served as the 56th commander of the Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army in Jaji, Kaduna. His appointment was then confirmed as the substantive Chief of Army Staff by the Senate following the adoption of the Committee on Army’s report on the Oluyede screening at the plenary on Tuesday, December 3.
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Born in Ikere, Ekiti State in 1968, Olufemi Oluyede embarked on his military career in 1987 as a cadet in the Nigerian Defence Academy. He was officially commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1992 after completing the Nigerian Army’s rigorous training regimen.
Oluyede is a member of the 39th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy,[4] along with Late Lt. Gen Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja. His military career has spanned numerous command and staff roles across Nigeria and in various international deployments. Promoted to the rank of major general in 2020, he has held leadership roles that underscore his extensive expertise and commitment to service.
His command roles have included:
Platoon Commander and Adjutant at the 65 Battalion
Company Commander at the 177 Guards Battalion Staff Officer with the Guards Brigade
Commandant of the Amphibious Training School
Commander of the 27 Task Force Brigade in the North East, leading operations under Operation HADIN KAI
He has also participated in international peacekeeping and conflict resolution missions, including the ECOMOG Mission in Liberia and Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi.
Appointments and achievements:
In 2024, Oluyede was appointed Acting Chief of Army Staff by President Tinubu. As COAS, he brings to the role a wealth of operational experience, particularly in infantry command and military strategy. He is recognized for his leadership in both domestic security and international peace operations, further establishing Nigeria’s role in regional stability.
Honours and decorations
Oluyede’s service has earned him numerous awards, including:
Corps Medal of Honour
Grand Service Star
Field Command Medal of Honour
Field Training Medal
Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award
Membership in the National Institute
Throughout his career, Oluyede has participated in key 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 Northeast. He is married and has three children.
