Major General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja is a Qualified Special Forces Officer (Airbrone and Amphibious) with a keen interest in the welfare of his subordinates.
He is Mission focused, with a disposition and mantra that is to lead from the front. A dedicated family man, keen sportsman, results-oriented and prudent manager of resources and dedicated team player.
Early Life
He was born in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area, Osun State on 28 February 1968. He attended Local Authority Teachers College, Demonstration School Osogbo between 1973 – 1979. Attended St Charles Grammar School, Osogbo from 1979 – 1984, The Polytechnic, Ibadan from 1984 to 1986 and obtained West African School Certificate (Advanced Level).
General Admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy on 12 September 1987 as a member of 39th Regular Course. He was Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant on 19 September 1992 into the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps.
Courses Attended
Company Amphibious Operations Course – Amphibious Training School (May – June 1993).
Young Officers’ Course (Infantry) – Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (September – December 1993). –
Basic Airborne Course – Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (March – April 1995). – Not Graded
Advanced Airborne Course – Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (November – December 1995). – Not Graded
Amphibious Staff Operations Course – Amphibious Training School (September – December 1997).
Company Commanders’ Course – Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (February – May 2003).
Battalion Commanders’ Course – Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (September – December 2009).
Junior Staff Course – Armed Forces Command and Staff (May – December 2000).
Senior Staff Course – Armed Forces Command and Staff (August 2005 – July 2006).
Military Observers Course – Peacekeeping Wing Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (February – May 2008).
ECOWAS Standby Force Battalion Command Post Course – Peacekeeping Centre, Bamako, Mali – (June – August 2010).
Strategy and Leadership Course – US Army War College (April 2003 – June 2014).
Command/Staff/Instructional Appointments.
93 Battalion – 1992 – 1995 as a Platoon commander.
72 Special Forces Battalion – 1995 – 2001 as a Platoon commander.
Nigerian Defence Academy – 2001 – 2004 as an Instructor.
Army Headquarters Department of Army Training and Operations – 2004 – Grade 2 Staff Officer in charge of peacekeeping.
Armed Forces Command and Staff College – July 2005 – February 2006 – Grade 2 Staff Officer in charge of training.
Armed Forces Command and Staff College – 2006 – 2009 – Directing Staff.
Headquarters 81 Division – 2009 – 2012 – Deputy Chief of Staff G1 (Administration).
72 Special Forces Battalion Makurdi – 2012 – 2013 and 2014 – 2015 –Commanding Officer.
Headquarters 8 Task Force Division Monguno – 2016 – 2017 – Chief of Staff.
Army Headquarters Department of Army Training and Operations – January – December 2018 – Acting Director of Operations.
Headquarters 9 Brigade, Ikeja, Lagos State – December 2018 – April 2019 – Commander.
Headquarters 2 Brigade, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State – April 2019 – January 2020 – Commander.
Army Headquarters Department of Army Training and Operations – January 2020 – March 2021 – Director Force Generation.
Headquarters 82 Division – March 2021 – August 2022 – General Officer Commanding.
o. Headquarters 1 Division – August 2022 – Date – General Officer Commanding.
Promotion History.
Second Lieutenant – 12 September 1987.
Lieutenant – 12 September 1991.
Captain – 12 September 1995.
Major – 12 September 2000.
Lieutenant Colonel – 12 September 2005.
Colonel – 12 September 2010.
Brigadier General – 12 September 2015.
Major General – 12 September 2019.
Honours/Awards.
Forces Service Star.
Meritorious Service
Lateefah Ibrahim
