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The Nigerian Army has debunked reports suggesting a leadership gap due to the absence of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, who is currently on official leave.
Army spokesperson, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, clarified that all necessary protocols were put in place before Lagbaja’s departure, allowing Major General Abdulsalami Bagudu Ibrahim, the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), to step in and act on his behalf.
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Nwachukwu emphasized that the temporary absence of the COAS is not disrupting the Army’s operations.
“There have even been insinuations that there is a leadership vacuum, with officers confused about what to do. Nothing could be further from the truth,” he said.
He stressed the structured nature of the Army, noting that procedures are in place to address such situations.
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“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 was away,” Nwachukwu stated.
The spokesman also pointed out that it is not unusual for service chiefs to be temporarily unavailable, citing past instances where Chiefs of Policy and Plans have effectively managed operations during such absences.
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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.”
Reassuring the public, Nwachukwu confirmed that the Army’s routine activities are progressing as usual, with departmental chiefs carrying out their duties in line with the COAS’s directives.
He urged the public to ignore rumors of instability, reiterating the Army’s commitment to its responsibilities.
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