Tinubu Names Late Lt. Gen. Lagbaja One of His Best Appointments, Confers Late COAS With Posthumous CFR Award

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described Late Lt. Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, the former Chief of Army Staff as one of his best appointments in his almost two-year reign as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The president made these remarks during the late Army chief’s lying in state at the National Cemetery in Abuja.

“on behalf of a grateful nation, i say thank you to him for his outstanding service to the nation.

“… He was a man of prudent action who served diligently and cared greatly for those serving under him and lived for others than he ever lived for himself.

“I worked closely with him, he was more than i could have asked for. He was one of my best appointments.”

Conferment of Posthumous CFR

At the lying in state, president Tinubu announced the conferment of a posthumous national order of the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) with Late Gen. Lagbaja’s wife on hand to receive the posthumous award.

The award is in recognition of the late general’s groundbreaking achievements during his short tenure as the country’s chief of Army staff.

Gen. Lagbaja Achievements as COAS

During his tenure as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) between from June 2023 to November 2024, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja implemented significant changes and strategic innovations as well as a commitment to personnel welfare to further strengthen the Nigerian Army.

some of his key achievements include prioritized welfare of military personnel through the introduction of programs such as the Affordable Home Ownership Option for All Soldiers (AHOOAS) and the COAS Personnel Empowerment Loan Scheme (CPELS). This was aimed at improving soldiers’ living standards and providing financial security for soldiers, thereby boosting morale and operational effectiveness.

He also led critical military operations, notably “Operation Desert Sanity III,” which contributed to significant victories against insurgents in regions like Sambisa Forest and the Timbuktu Triangle. This successful military operations helped improve public perception of the military.

Lt. Gen. Lagbaja strengthened the Army’s intelligence capabilities through advanced technology and cooperation with other intelligence agencies. This approach led to better responses to insurgent threats and contributed to a decrease in terrorism rate in Nigeria.

Lt. Gen Lagbaja is also responsible for establishing the Nigerian Army Aviation. a move aimed to complement the Nigerian Air Force by providing additional support and enhancing field operations, despite limited resources. Lagbaja also promoted transparency and accountability within the Army.

He encouraged reporting through a toll-free emergency line and maintained rigorous oversight to address any misconduct among troops. He expanded troop deployments across the country to reinforce security, especially in areas prone to violence. This deployment helped create a visible deterrent and rapid response capability.

Conclusion

The loss of Gen. Lagbaja is a sad one for the military and Nigeria at large but his legacy definitely lives on.

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