By Cross Udo, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has appointed Maj-Gen Olufemi Oluyede as the acting Chief of Army Staff (CoAS).
A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, stated that
Oluyede will assume the position pending the return of Lt-Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, the indisposed substantive Chief of Army Staff.
According to the statement, “Until his appointment, Oluyede served as 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.”
The statement added that the acting COAS was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1992, effective from 1987. He rose to Major-General in September 2020.
Since his commissioning as an officer, Oluyede has held many commands. He was Platoon Commander and adjutant at 65 Battalion, Company Commander at 177 Guards Battalion, Staff Officer at the Guards Brigade, and Commandant of Amphibious Training School.
Oluyede 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 27 Task Force Brigade.
He has earned many honours for his meritorious service in various fields of operations. These include the Corps Medal of Honour, the Grand Service Star, Passing the Staff Course, and Membership in the National Institute.
Others are the Field Command Medal, the Field Command Medal of Honour, and the Field Training Medal.
Oluyede also received the coveted Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award.
He is married with three children.
