Newsbreak: Maj Gen Bagudu to act as Chief of Army Staff

By Ologeh Joseph Chibu

The Nigerian Army has appointed Maj Gen Abdulsalami Bagudu Ibrahim to act as Acting Chief of Army Staff.

He is to stand in for the Chief of Army Staff Taoreed Lagbaja who is currently on leave.

There have been speculations about the health of Lagbaji in the last three weeks.

Unofficial information claims he is overseas receiving treatment for undisclosed illness.

In a statement on Saturday, the Army said the absence of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has not created any leadership vacuum within the service.

The Acting Chief of Army Staff is the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Major General Abdulsalami Ibrahim who will act on behalf of the COAS during his absence.

The Director of Army Public Relations, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, “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.

He 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 was 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. 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,” he said.

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He said, “Indeed, in line with its Forecast of Events for 2024, the Nigerian Army recently conducted the Captain-to-Major Practical Promotion Examination in Akure. Subsequently, and in line with extant procedures, the Commander of Training and Doctrine Command, Major General Kevin Aligbe, announced the results after due authorisation by the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), who currently represents the Chief of Army Staff during his absence on leave and medical check-up abroad. 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.”

He said the COAS’s absence has not affected the release of the WO-MWO promotion exercise results

Onyema said that it has never been the practice for the COAS to personally sign postings or promotions for officers and soldiers in the Nigerian Army.

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

“The Army Headquarters, therefore, enjoins the general public to remain confident in the NA and be assured that the service remains on top of the security situation in the country and is ever ready to defend Nigeria against any aggression on its land territory,” he added.