The Nigerian Army has refuted recent media claims suggesting a leadership vacuum due to the absence of Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja. Army spokesperson, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, clarified that Lagbaja is on official leave, and adequate provisions have been made for Major General Abdulsalami Ibrahim, Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), to act on his behalf.
Nwachukwu emphasized that operations within the Army remain unaffected, dismissing reports of confusion among officers as unfounded. “The Nigerian Army is a highly structured establishment with clear protocols for handling such circumstances,” he stated on Saturday. He further explained that it is not unusual for the Chief of Policy and Plans to manage operations during the COAS’s absence, citing similar instances in the past.
He reassured the public that all routine activities and directives are being fully executed, and urged everyone to disregard any misleading rumors. “The Nigerian Army remains fully committed to its duties, with no disruption to its operations,” Nwachukwu affirmed.