Nigerian Army breaks silence on Chief Of Army Staff, Lagbaja’ being ‘Incapacitated’ abroad

The Nigerian Army has assured the public that there is no leadership vacuum within the service despite the ongoing official leave of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja.

In a statement released on Saturday, the Director of Army Public Relations, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, clarified that Major General Abdulsalami Ibrahim, the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), has been designated to act on behalf of the COAS during Lagbaja’s absence.

Maj. Gen. Nwachukwu emphasized that the necessary protocols are in place to ensure the seamless operation of the Army.

He said, “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.

“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.”

Explaining that the COAS’s absence has not stalled promotions for officers, Onyema added that the results of the Captain-to-Major promotion exam had been released following the approval of the Chief of Policy and Plans.

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.”