President Bola Tinubu has named Major-General Olufemi Oluyede as interim Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
According to a statement sent by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga on Wednesday night, Oluyede will replace the indisposed substantive Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja.
Until his assignment, Oluyede was the 56th commander of the Nigerian Army’s elite Infantry Corps, stationed in Jaji, Kaduna.
Oluyede and Lagbaja, both 56, were coursemates in the 39th Regular Course.
He was appointed second lieutenant in 1992, effective 1987, and promoted 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 Guards Brigade, and commandant at Amphibious Training School.
General 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.
Oluyede has earned many honours for his 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 and has three children.
