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PROFILE: New Chief Of Army Staff, Abiodun Lagbaja

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President Bola Tinubu on Monday appointed Major General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja as the Chief of Army Staff.

Major General Lagbaja replaces Lt-Gen Faruk Yahaya, who was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021.

Early Life

a. Born in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area, Osun State on 28 February 1968.

b. Attended Local Authority Teachers College Demonstration School Osogbo between 1973 – 1979.

c. Attended St Charles Grammar School, Osogbo from 1979 – 1984.

d. Attended The Polytechnic, Ibadan from 1984 to 1986 and obtained West African School Certificate (Advanced Level).

e. Admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy on 12 September 1987 as a member of 39th Regular Course.

f. Commissioned as 2Lt on 19 September 1992 into the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps.

Courses Attended

a. Company Amphibious Operations Course – Amphibious Training School (May – June 1993). – C.

b. Young Officers’ Course (Infantry) – Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (September – December 1993). – C+

c. Basic Airborne Course – Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (March – April 1995). – Not Graded

d. Advanced Airborne Course – Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (November – December 1995). – Not Graded

e. Amphibious Staff Operations Course – Amphibious Training School (September – December 1997). – C

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f. Company Commanders’ Course – Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (February – May 2003). – C+

g. Battalion Commanders’ Course – Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (September – December 2009). – B

h. Junior Staff Course – Armed Forces Command and Staff (May – December 2000). – C+

i. Senior Staff Course – Armed Forces Command and Staff (August 2005 – July 2006). – C+

j. Military Observers Course – Peacekeeping Wing Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (February – May 2008). – B

k. ECOWAS Standby Force Battalion Command Post Course – Peacekeeping Centre, Bamako, Mali – (June – August 2010). – Not Graded

l. Strategy and Leadership Course – US Army War College (April 2003 – June 2014). – Not Graded

Command/Staff/Instructional Appointments

a. 93 Battalion – 1992 – 1995 as a Platoon commander.

b. 72 Special Forces Battalion – 1995 – 2001 as a Platoon commander.

c. Nigerian Defence Academy – 2001 – 2004 as an Instructor.

d. Army Headquarters Department of Army Training and Operations – 2004 – Grade 2 Staff Officer in charge of peacekeeping.

e. Armed Forces Command and Staff College – July 2005 – February 2006 – Grade 2 Staff Officer in charge of training.

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f. Armed Forces Command and Staff College – 2006 – 2009 – Directing Staff.

g. Headquarters 81 Division – 2009 – 2012 – Deputy Chief of Staff G1 (Administration).

h. 72 Special Forces Battalion Makurdi – 2012 – 2013 and 2014 – 2015 –Commanding Officer.

i. Headquarters 8 Task Force Division Monguno – 2016 – 2017 – Chief of Staff.

j. Army Headquarters Department of Army Training and Operations – January – December 2018 – Acting Director of Operations.

k. Headquarters 9 Brigade, Ikeja, Lagos State – December 2018 – April 2019 – Commander.

l. Headquarters 2 Brigade, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State – April 2019 – January 2020 – Commander.

m. Army Headquarters Department of Army Training and Operations – January 2020 – March 2021 – Director Force Generation.

n. Headquarters 82 Division – March 2021 – August 2022 – General Officer Commanding.

o. Headquarters 1 Division – August 2022 – Date – General Officer Commanding.

Promotion History

a. Second Lieutenant – 12 September 1987.

b. Lieutenant – 12 September 1991.

c. Captain – 12 September 1995.

d. Major – 12 September 2000.

e. Lieutenant Colonel – 12 September 2005.

f. Colonel – 12 September 2010.

g. Brigadier General – 12 September 2015.

h. Major General – 12 September 2019.

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Honours/Awards

a. Forces Service Star.

b. Meritorious Service Star.

c. Distinguished Service Star.

d. Passed Staff Course (+).

e. Fellows United States Army War College.

f. Command Medal.

g. Field Command Medal.

h. Field Command Medal of Honour.

i. General Operations Medal.

j. Operation Harmony Medal.

k. United Nations Peacekeeping Operation Medal.

l. Operation LAFIYA DOLE Medal.

Academic Qualifications

a. Bsc Geography – Nigerian Defence Academy (2001).

b. Msc Strategic Studies – US Army War College (2014).

Operations Participated

a. Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi Peninsula – January 1996 – June 2000.

b. United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) – 2004 – 2005.

c. Operation ZAKI – September 2012 – April 2013/July 2014 – December 2015 – Internal Security Operation in Benue State.

d. Operation LAFIYA DOLE – December 2015 – January 2018.

e. Operation MESA/Operation UDO KA – March 2021 – August 2022 – Internal Security Operation in South East Zone Nigeria (Anambra/Abia/Ebonyi/Enugu and Imo States).

f. Operation FOREST SANITY – Aug 2022 – Date – Internal Security Operation in Kaduna/Niger States.

Marital Status

Happily married to Mrs Mariya Abiodun-Lagbaja and the marriage is blessed with two children.

Hobbies

Watching documentary and reading biographies.

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Tinubu returns to Nigeria after state visit to UK

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President Bola Tinubu arrived in Lagos early on Friday following a two-day historic visit to the United Kingdom.

The president is expected to join Muslim faithful later in the day to mark the celebration of Eid-el-Fitr.

Tinubu and his wife, the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, touched down at about 1:15 a.m. at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport.

They were received on arrival by top government officials and party members, including Lagos State Deputy Governor Femi Hamzat and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, alongside other All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts.

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Tinubu departs UK for Nigeria after historic state visit

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has departed the the United Kingdom for Nigeria following a high-profile state visit.

This was disclosed on Friday morning by the President’s Special Adviser, Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

“President Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu depart London for Nigeria. President Tinubu and his wife are heading to Lagos for the Eid-el-Fitr celebration,” Onanuga wrote on his Facebook page.

The visit was marked by royal engagements, economic discussions and renewed diplomatic ties.

Tinubu was first received by King Charles III at Windsor Castle, where both leaders held talks aimed at strengthening relations between Nigeria and the UK. The visit featured ceremonial honours, including a carriage procession and a state banquet attended by senior members of the royal family.

At the banquet, Tinubu emphasised the importance of stronger cooperation between both countries. “Nigeria remains ready to deepen its partnership with the United Kingdom in trade, investment and shared prosperity,” he said. “We are committed to creating an environment that supports investors and drives sustainable growth,” Tinubu said.

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On his part, King Charles highlighted the enduring relationship between the two nations. “The United Kingdom and Nigeria share deep and enduring ties. Our countries are bound not only by history, but by a shared commitment to opportunity, enterprise and cultural exchange,” the monarch said.

Beyond the royal engagements, Tinubu also took part in meetings with UK officials, including discussions linked to the government of Keir Starmer, focusing on economic collaboration and investment opportunities.

Speaking on the outcomes of the visit, Tinubu said: “This visit has opened new pathways for cooperation, particularly in infrastructure and trade. We look forward to translating these discussions into tangible benefits for our people.”

A key development from the trip was progress on an agreement involving the rehabilitation of Nigerian ports, valued at hundreds of millions of pounds. According to officials, the project is expected to boost maritime capacity and support economic growth.

Tinubu also acknowledged the significance of the visit, noting that it comes at a crucial time for Nigeria’s economy. “We are determined to reposition our economy through strategic partnerships such as this,” he said.

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Good morning! Nigerian Newspapers Headlines: 2027 gov poll: Succession firestorm heats up in 10 states

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1. The simmering build-up to the 2027 general elections is rapidly giving way to an expansive and high-stakes succession season in at least 10 states, as governors in their final terms prepare to exit and a new generation of political actors moves to take their place.

Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara) are in the final lap of their constitutionally permitted two-term, four-year tenures, and the battle for their successors has begun across the states


2. President Bola Tinubu on Thursday night departed London after a two-day historic visit at the instance of the royal family. He is expected to land in Abuja on Friday morning.


3. The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has called on the Nigerian military to adopt a more proactive strategy against terrorist groups in the wake of deadly bombings in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Abubakar made the appeal on Wednesday evening while declaring Friday as Eid-el-Fitr, marking the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.


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4. Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State says the time of Boko Haram informants and their sympathizers is up, vowing that they would be tracked and made to face the full wrath of the law. The governor gave the warning during a state-wide broadcast on Thursday.


5. There was panic at St. Matthias Catholic Church, Agulu, in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, after a fully loaded lorry crashed into the church premises and caught fire. The incident, which occurred late on Wednesday along the Agulu Lake–Golden Tulip Hotel Road, caused gridlock as motorists slowed down while emergency responders battled to contain the blaze.



6. Nigeria has entered into a fresh agreement with the United Kingdom that will enable British authorities to repatriate thousands of failed asylum seekers and convicted offenders to the West African nation. The deal was formalised by Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and UK Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood during President Bola Tinubu’s official visit to Britain.


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7. Combined security operatives have arrested three suspected bandits linked to the February 3, 2026 attack on Woro village in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State. The arrest was disclosed on Thursday by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Ibraheem Abdullateef, in a Facebook post.



8. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Kano Strategic Command, has arrested a suspect and recovered 510 blocks of cannabis sativa in a major pre–Eid-el-Fitr operation. The State Commander, D.Y. Lawal, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics, Sadiq Muhammad Maigatari.


9. Nigeria has been ranked the fourth most terrorized country in the world, according to the Global Terrorism Index, 2026, released by the Institute for Economics & Peace, a non-profit think tank headquartered in Sydney, Australia. The report showed that 750 Nigerians lost their lives to terrorism in 2025, representing a 46 per cent increase compared to the previous year.



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10. The Police Command in Enugu State has detained three suspects in coordinated crime prevention operations across the state, recovering a firearm, ammunition and a tricycle. The command’s spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Enugu. Ndukwe said that on March 15, about 9 a.m., operatives on patrol along Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway intercepted an unregistered tricycle.

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