ACTING COAS CONDOLES LATE LIEUTENANT GENERAL LAGBAJA’S FAMILY

By: Our Reporter

The Acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede has paid a condolence visit to Mrs Mariya Lagbaja and other family members of the late Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, Nigeria’s 23rd Chief of Army Staff who passed on Tuesday 5th November 2024 after a brief illness. Gen Oluyede paid the condolence on Wednesday 6 November 2024, at the Flag Staff House, Niger Barracks Abuja, accompanied by Principal Staff Officers of the Army Headquarters, Corps Commanders, and General Officers Commanding of the Nigerian Army.

Paying tribute to the late COAS, Gen Oluyede extolled his gallantry, dedication, and legacies throughout his service years in the Nigerian Army and the Armed Forces of Nigeria in general.

In a succinct message penned in the condolence register opened in honour of the late COAS, the Acting COAS stated, “It is with a huge sense of loss, albeit responsibility that I, on behalf of the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army commiserate with Mrs Mariya Lagbaja, the children and the entire Lagbaja clan over the passing of our dogged, gallant and extremely dedicated leader Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja (Nigerian Army Medal) the Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army. Lt Gen Lagbaja, without doubt, gave his all to the service of our dear nation. This was evident in his dedication to duty and the legacies he has left behind. We only take solace in the fact that we cannot in any way querry the Almighty. We surely owe him a whole lot. Rest in peace, our leader and hero. You will surely be missed. “

It would be recalled that the Late Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja was on 19 June 2023 appointed Chief of Army Staff by the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and fully assumed command of the Nigerian Army as the 23rd COAS on 23 June 2023.

A seasoned Infantry officer, the late General Lagbaja, was commissioned in 1992 as a member of the 39 Regular Combatant Course of the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna. He distinguished himself as a Special Forces Commander and a military leader per excellence who held several appointments in the course of his exemplary military career. Late General Lagbaja served as General Officer Commanding 82 and 1 Divisions of the Nigerian Army in Enugu and Kaduna, respectively. He also commanded 9 Brigade Ikeja and 2 Brigade Uyo as well as 72 Special Forces Battalion on two separate tours of duty. Prior to his assumption of command of the Nigerian Army as the 23rd Chief of Army Staff, he was the Chief of Operations (Army), where he coordinated all the operational activities of the Nigerian Army. As the then Chief of Army Staff, he worked assiduously to defeat terrorism, banditry, and other security challenges experienced across the nation.

ACTING COAS CONDOLES LATE LIEUTENANT GENERAL LAGBAJA’S FAMILY

SENATE COMMITTEE ON DEFENCE CONDUCTS OVERSIGHT VISIT TO AFCSC

By: Our Reporter

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, Sen. Ahmad Lawan and his entourage conducted an Oversight Visit to the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC) Jaji Kaduna on Monday, November 4, 2024. The visit, held at AVM AO Ogundana Officers’ Mess aimed to inspect and assess projects executed by the College.

In his address, the commandant AFCSC, AVM HI Alhaji welcome the committee. He further mentioned that the College was established with the mission to train tactical and operational level officers in standardized command and staff duties through professional military education to effectively accomplish the constitutional roles of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

During his remarks, Sen. Ahmad Lawan stated that in the current global landscape, security is paramount. Therefore, he pledged to continue prioritizing the nation’s security and military forces to ensure they receive the necessary support. “When we secure our environment, we can more easily and comfortably provide for other needs,” he said. The committee chairman also highlighted the AFCSC as a key institution for military training, providing education to officers at the tactical, operational, and mid-management levels, who go on to lead critical military operations. Sen. Ahmad Lawan stressed the importance of creating a conducive environment for achieving the College’s goals, underscoring that adequate funding is essential for success.

“There must be substantial investment in the AFCSC and other defence institutions like the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and the National Defence College (NDC),” Lawan said. “These institutions attract people from all over the world for training, a testament to the excellence of our programs.” He called for more funding in the upcoming 2025 budget for defence institutions and security agencies, asserting that security should be the nation’s top priority.

Sen. Ahmad Lawan thereafter, commended also the Commandant AFCSC, his predecessors and members of the College Committee for their dedicated efforts in building and sustaining the institution since its inception.

Highlights of the event included inspection of the quarter guard, presentation of souvenirs, a tour of College facilities.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON DEFENCE CONDUCTS OVERSIGHT VISIT TO AFCSC

GENERAL SARASO DECORATES NEWLY PROMOTED SNCOs WITH THEIR NEW BADGES OF RANK, CHARGES THEM TO REMAIN DISCIPLINE AND DEDICATED TO DUTY

By: Musa Adams

The General Officer Commanding 1 Division and Commander Sector 1 Operation FANSAN YAMMA Major General Mayirenso Lander Saraso has charged newly promoted Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) at the Division’s Headquarters to remain disciplined, hardworking and dedicated as well as continue to work very hard for more promotions. General Saraso gave the charge during the investiture ceremony of the newly promoted SNCOs which was held at the GOC’s Conference Room on Monday 4 November 2024.

The GOC congratulated the newly promoted SNCOs and Warrant Officers for attaining a new level in their careers. He emphasized that promotion is not just a recognition but a call to even greater responsibility, saying, “The work towards your next rank begins now. The higher you go, the tougher the challenges become.” He encouraged them to redouble their efforts and prove themselves as assets, not liabilities, to the Nigerian Army and admonished their colleagues to recognize and respect their new ranks when offering guidance and advice.

While giving some words of advice to the newly promoted soldiers, the Chief of Staff 1 Division, Brigadier General David Nwakonobi, also commended the SNCOs and reminded them that each promotion comes with greater responsibility, saying, “The path may be tougher as you continue to grow in ranks”.

The newly promoted and decorated soldiers were Staff Sergeants Joseph Godwin, Warrant Officer Danlami Dombo, Warrant Officer Danjinjiri Usman and Warrant Officer Alhassan Musa, all of Headquarters 1 Division.

In his vote of thanks on behalf of his newly promoted colleagues, Warrant Officer Alhassan Musa thanked the almighty God for the privilege to witness the day and expressed gratitude to the GOC for the promotion and pledged their commitment to uphold the duties and values of the Nigerian Army.

Highlights of the event were the investiture ceremony, words of advice to the newly promoted soldiers by senior officers and a group photograph.

GENERAL SARASO DECORATES NEWLY PROMOTED SNCOs WITH THEIR NEW BADGES OF RANK, CHARGES THEM TO REMAIN DISCIPLINE AND DEDICATED TO DUTY