President Bola Tinubu on Monday appointed Major General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja as the Chief of Army Staff.

Major General Lagbaja replaces Lt-Gen Faruk Yahaya, who was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021.

Early Life
a. Born in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area, Osun State on 28 February 1968.

b. Attended Local Authority Teachers College Demonstration School Osogbo between 1973 – 1979.

c. Attended St Charles Grammar School, Osogbo from 1979 – 1984.

d. Attended The Polytechnic, Ibadan from 1984 to 1986 and obtained West African School Certificate (Advanced Level).

e. Admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy on 12 September 1987 as a member of 39th Regular Course.

f. Commissioned as 2Lt on 19 September 1992 into the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps.

Courses Attended
a. Company Amphibious Operations Course – Amphibious Training School (May – June 1993). – C.

b. Young Officers’ Course (Infantry) – Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (September – December 1993). – C+

c. Basic Airborne Course – Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (March – April 1995). – Not Graded

d. Advanced Airborne Course – Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (November – December 1995). – Not Graded

e. Amphibious Staff Operations Course – Amphibious Training School (September – December 1997). – C

f. Company Commanders’ Course – Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (February – May 2003). – C+

g. Battalion Commanders’ Course – Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (September – December 2009). – B

h. Junior Staff Course – Armed Forces Command and Staff (May – December 2000). – C+

i. Senior Staff Course – Armed Forces Command and Staff (August 2005 – July 2006). – C+

j. Military Observers Course – Peacekeeping Wing Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (February – May 2008). – B

k. ECOWAS Standby Force Battalion Command Post Course – Peacekeeping Centre, Bamako, Mali – (June – August 2010). – Not Graded

l. Strategy and Leadership Course – US Army War College (April 2003 – June 2014). – Not Graded

Command/Staff/Instructional Appointments

a. 93 Battalion – 1992 – 1995 as a Platoon commander.

b. 72 Special Forces Battalion – 1995 – 2001 as a Platoon commander.

c. Nigerian Defence Academy – 2001 – 2004 as an Instructor.

d. Army Headquarters Department of Army Training and Operations – 2004 – Grade 2 Staff Officer in charge of peacekeeping.

e. Armed Forces Command and Staff College – July 2005 – February 2006 – Grade 2 Staff Officer in charge of training.

f. Armed Forces Command and Staff College – 2006 – 2009 – Directing Staff.

g. Headquarters 81 Division – 2009 – 2012 – Deputy Chief of Staff G1 (Administration).

h. 72 Special Forces Battalion Makurdi – 2012 – 2013 and 2014 – 2015 –Commanding Officer.

i. Headquarters 8 Task Force Division Monguno – 2016 – 2017 – Chief of Staff.

j. Army Headquarters Department of Army Training and Operations – January – December 2018 – Acting Director of Operations.

k. Headquarters 9 Brigade, Ikeja, Lagos State – December 2018 – April 2019 – Commander.

l. Headquarters 2 Brigade, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State – April 2019 – January 2020 – Commander.

m. Army Headquarters Department of Army Training and Operations – January 2020 – March 2021 – Director Force Generation.

n. Headquarters 82 Division – March 2021 – August 2022 – General Officer Commanding.

o. Headquarters 1 Division – August 2022 – Date – General Officer Commanding.

Promotion History

a. Second Lieutenant – 12 September 1987.

b. Lieutenant – 12 September 1991.

c. Captain – 12 September 1995.

d. Major – 12 September 2000.

e. Lieutenant Colonel – 12 September 2005.

f. Colonel – 12 September 2010.

g. Brigadier General – 12 September 2015.

h. Major General – 12 September 2019.

Honours/Awards

a. Forces Service Star.

b. Meritorious Service Star.

c. Distinguished Service Star.

d. Passed Staff Course (+).

e. Fellows United States Army War College.

f. Command Medal.

g. Field Command Medal.

h. Field Command Medal of Honour.

i. General Operations Medal.

j. Operation Harmony Medal.

k. United Nations Peacekeeping Operation Medal.

l. Operation LAFIYA DOLE Medal.

Academic Qualifications

a. Bsc Geography – Nigerian Defence Academy (2001).

b. MSc Strategic Studies – US Army War College (2014).

Operations Participated

a. Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi Peninsula – January 1996 – June 2000.

b. United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) – 2004 – 2005.

c. Operation ZAKI – September 2012 – April 2013/July 2014 – December 2015 – Internal Security Operation in Benue State.

d. Operation LAFIYA DOLE – December 2015 – January 2018.

e. Operation MESA/Operation UDO KA – March 2021 – August 2022 – Internal Security Operation in South East Zone Nigeria (Anambra/Abia/Ebonyi/Enugu and Imo States).

f. Operation FOREST SANITY – Aug 2022 – Date – Internal Security Operation in Kaduna/Niger States.

Marital Status

Happily married to Mrs Mariya Abiodun-Lagbaja and the marriage is blessed with two children.

Hobbies

Watching documentary and reading biographies.

SmartPolician:
Apart from Obasanjo, every other Nigerian president appointed soldiers either from their tribe or a tribe they can trust as his army chief. It's quite unfortunate that 100 years later, Nigeria is still struggling to unite as one country. Congratulations to the new army chief!

e. Operation MESA/Operation UDO KA – March 2021 – August 2022 – Internal Security Operation in South East Zone Nigeria (Anambra/Abia/Ebonyi/Enugu and Imo States).

GOFRONT:
I thought Lagbaja is only a name of a Masquerade

GOFRONT:
I thought Lagbaja is only a name of a Masquerade

Lol..

Rara oo..

Lagbaja is a name & not a masquerade o

A normal typical Yoruba name!

The masquerading dressing of the popular music legend - Lagbaja is only a style I guess, it has nothing to do with his name! You know every musician got their own unique style!

SmartPolician:
Apart from Obasanjo (that man is a true Nigerian), every other Nigerian president appointed soldiers either from their tribe or a tribe they can trust as his army chief.

It's quite unfortunate that 100 years later, Nigeria is still struggling to unite as one country. Congratulations to the new army chief though!

nairalandkachy1:


https://www.channelstv.com/2023/06/19/profile-nigerias-new-chief-of-army-staff-abiodun-lagbaja/amp/

2mch:

When e reach your turn, appoint the father of your enemies. Who spend all day online spewing lies and hate against you and celebrating the day they hope you fail. Your eye go clear. Na Nigeria you de use play? Even US the President will never appoint such characters to watch his back.

GeneralPula:

Lol..

Rara oo..

Lagbaja is a name & not a masquerade o

A normal typical Yoruba name!

The masquerading dressing of the popular music legend - Lagbaja is only a style I guess, it has nothing to do with his name! You know every musician got their own unique style!

abibox02:
Incredible profile that merit the appointment, but the task ahead as COAS is daunting, this is a crucial moment in our nation's history, as the country is trying to put her econony in proper shape, the security of life and property (economy) of her citizens is important too. This will put Nigeria back as the giant of Africa. God bless Nigeria

Zonefree:
Can we see profile of their Grand Commander, starting from his early life, primary and secondary schools he attended?

SmartPolician:
Apart from Obasanjo (that man is a true Nigerian), every other Nigerian president appointed soldiers either from their tribe or a tribe they can trust as his army chief.

It's quite unfortunate that 100 years later, Nigeria is still struggling to unite as one country. Congratulations to the new army chief though!

SmartPolician:
Apart from Obasanjo (that man is a true Nigerian), every other Nigerian president appointed soldiers either from their tribe or a tribe they can trust as his army chief.

It's quite unfortunate that 100 years later, Nigeria is still struggling to unite as one country. Congratulations to the new army chief though!