President Bola Tinubu has formally appointed and decorated Lt. General Olufemi Oluyede as the new Chief of Army Staff following the passing of his predecessor, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja. Oluyede was elevated from Major General to Lieutenant General just days after his appointment as acting army chief. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga had announced Oluyede’s appointment on October 30, 2024.
Until his recent promotion, Oluyede served as the 56th Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps in Jaji, Kaduna. A distinguished leader with over three decades of military experience, he has held numerous commands and participated in key military 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, where he commanded the 27 Task Force Brigade.
A coursemate of the late Lt. General Lagbaja and a member of the 39th Regular Course, Oluyede was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1992 and achieved the rank of Major General in September 2020. Throughout his career, he has been recognized with several honors for his dedicated service, including the Corps Medal of Honour, Grand Service Star, and membership in the National Institute.
With this promotion, Lt. General Oluyede takes on the responsibility of leading the Nigerian Army at a critical time, honoring the legacy of his late colleague and predecessor while stepping forward to address the nation’s security challenges.
