The Nigerian Army says the absence of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has not created a vacuum in the service’s leadership.

The army said this in a statement on Saturday, October 19, 2024.

It stated that Lagbaja is on official leave, adding that necessary protocols have been put in place for the army’s Chief of Policy and Plans, Major General Abdulsalami Ibrahim, to act on behalf of the COAS during his absence.

The Nigerian Army noted: “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 is away.

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“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 leadership vacuum in the NA presently is therefore mere speculation, as all routine and scheduled activities of the Service are on course.

“Indeed, in line with its Forecast of Events for 2024, the NA recently conducted the Captain-Major Practical Promotion Examination in Akure. Subsequently and in line with extant procedures, the Commander Traning and Doctrine Command, Major General Kevin Aligbe, announced the result after due authorisation by the Chief of Policy and Plans, who currently answers for the Chief of Army Staff in his absence on leave and medical checkup 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 Star