Army Refutes Leadership Gap Speculations, Confirms COAS Lagbaja On Leave

The Nigerian Army has clarified that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, has proceeded on leave and is undergoing a medical checkup abroad. In his absence, the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Major General Abdulsalami Bagudu Ibrahim, is acting on his behalf.

In a statement, the Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, addressed rumors circulating in some media outlets about a leadership vacuum within the Army, dismissing them as baseless speculation.

He assured the public that all routine and scheduled activities are proceeding smoothly, and there is no confusion among officers, as claimed by some publications.

General Nwachukwu described these reports as “laughable” and “mischief,” aimed at causing panic and confusion within the ranks and among the general public.

He said there has also been insinuations about personnel postings, promotions, and training vis-a-vis the official leave of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS).

Major General Nwachukwu said “the Nigerian Army is a highly structured establishment with well-laid-out procedures and processes for dealing with different circumstances.”

He said; “Before proceeding on leave, necessary protocols were put in place for the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Major General Abdulsalami Bagudu Ibrahim, to act on behalf of the COAS, while he is away. This is not peculiar to the NA as there have been instances where unforeseen human frailty kept service chiefs away for about three months, and their Chiefs of Policy and Plans held sway in their absence.”

To buttress this point, General Nwachukwu said in line with its Forecast of Events for 2024, the Nigerian Army recently conducted the Captain-Major Practical Promotion Examination in Akure. Subsequently and in line with extant procedures, the Commander Training and Doctrine Command, Major General Kevin Aligbe, announced the result after due authorisation by the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), who currently answers for the Chief of Army Staff.

Additionally, the Master Warrant Officer to Army Warrant Officer Promotion Exercise is currently ongoing in Jos. This follows a similar exercise held for Warrant Officer to Master Warrant Officer (WO-MWO) in Kaduna.

The results of these exercises are expected to be released in the coming days, pending final reconciliation between the respective Corps and the Army Headquarters Department of Personnel Management.

Contrary to the insinuation that the absence of the COAS occasioned by his leave, has caused undue delay in the release of the result of the WO-MWO promotion exercise, the Nigerian Army, clarified that it has never been the practice for the COAS to sign postings or promotions for both officers and soldiers in the NA.

The appropriate departmental chiefs perform these functions routinely and the Departmental Chiefs, demonstrating their unwavering commitment, are fully carrying out their responsibilities in line with the COAS Command Philosophy.

The Army Headquarters, therefore, enjoined the general public to remain confident in the NA and be assured that the Service remains on top of the security situations in the country and is ever ready to defend Nigeria against any aggression on its land territory.

Meanwhile, the Army Headquarters appreciated all well-meaning Nigerians who showed genuine concern about Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja and have continued to pray for him.

The Army Headquarters therefore assured Nigerians and the international community that all land-related training, operational, and administrative activities are on course and that the COPP(A) is firmly and effectively running the affairs of the Service pending the return of the COAS.

Mercy Chukwudiebere