Olufemi Oluyede assumes office as 24th chief of army staff

Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede has officially assumed command as the 24th Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) on Monday.

Oluyede was appointed by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu on October 30, 2024, in acting capacity as th COAS following the death of his predecessor, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja.

The president later requested the senate to confirm Oluyede as the COAS and the upper chamber confirmed the appointment on November 3, 2024.

However following the confirmation of his appointment by the Senate and the House of Representatives, the Nigerian Army on Monday, performed a symbolic lowering and hoisting of command flag at Army Headquarters to signify Oluyede’s assumption of office.

The symbolic lowering and hoisting of the command flag which signified the beginning of his tenure.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, had on Nov. 1, handed him the insignia of office in an unusual fashion in line with the Armed Forces Act.

What you should know about Oluyede

Oluyede, a native of Ikere, Ekiti State was born in 1968

He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1992 and attained the rank of Major General in September 2020.

He is a coursemate of the late Lt. Gen. Lagbaja in the 39th Regular Course.

Oluyede has received various awards throughout his career, including the Corps Medal of Honour, the Grand Service Star, and the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award.

His extensive career includes several leadership positions, such as Platoon Commander and Adjutant at the 65 Battalion, Company Commander at the 177 Guards Battalion, and Commandant of the Amphibious Training School.

The new COAS has participated in several critical military operations, including the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) mission in Liberia, Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi, and, more recently, Operation HADIN KAI in the North East, where he commanded the 27 Task Force Brigade.