Nigerian Army names acting COAS, as Lagbaja goes on leave

Abdullateef Fowewe

The Nigerian Army has declared that the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, is on leave.

The clarification follows reports that the COAS is currently incapacitated due to health issues.

Disclosing this development, the Army spokesman, Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement, said that there is a laid down process that ensures no vacuum in the leadership structure.

Nwachukwu noted that the Army Chief of Policy and Plans, Major General Abdulsalami Ibrahim, would act on behalf of the COAS during his absence, confirming that the COAS’ leave wouldn’t affect the Army’s operations.

The statement reads, “There have even been insinuations that there is a leadership vacuum, with officers confused about what to do. Nothing could be further from the truth.

“To be very clear, the Nigerian Army is a highly structured establishment with well-laid-out procedures and processes for dealing with different circumstances. 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 was away.

“Claims of a leadership vacuum in the NA at present are therefore mere speculation, as all routine and scheduled activities of the service are on course.”