By Abdulrahman Sade
On June 19, 2023, barely two weeks after he assumed office, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu appointed new service chiefs for our dear nation with a charge that they should maintain teamwork to ensure peace and stability in the country.
One of the military officers the president appointed was Lieutenant-General Lt-General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, as the Chief of the Army Staff. Many described the appointment as a “round peg in a round hole” given his antecedents. In fact, two days after the appointment, an internationally acclaimed military professor believes Lagbaja’s appointment is one of the best appointments the President will make throughout his presidency.
Another renowned military expert described Lagbaja’s appointment as, “the best man for the job; there is no military man or woman who is still serving in Nigeria that is more qualified. Lagbaja is one of the few military officers in Africa trained to fight in air, land, and water.”
He is now barely five months in office and he has hit the ground running. He has been emphatically showing the president and all of Nigeria that he is equal to the task saddled on him. He has been demonstrating to the retinue of security experts that the glowing praises they showered on him at the time of his appointment were not charades or hagiography.
A few days after he assumed office, Lagbaja unveiled his guiding philosophy which is: “to transform the Nigerian Army into a well-trained, equipped, and highly motivated force towards achieving our constitutional responsibilities with a joint environment.” Every security expert I spoke to about this philosophy commended it and added that Nigeria would witness a holistic security improvement if the philosophy is followed and implemented the way it should be implemented.
It is not only in the military; anywhere genuine success wants to be achieved, the capacity and welfare of the players must be prioritized. Looking at Lagbaja’s stride so far, the welfare of the army is vital to him. One could even be correct to posit that welfare ranks highest in his agenda. Whatever he does, he does for the direct benefit of the troops. He is now ensuring that they are always in the right frame of mind in their duty. Reports now abound that he goes to any length to see and meet the troops’ needs at every point in time.
Under his leadership, priority is now been given to the equipment used by the military to combat the activities of criminals. The allowances and bonuses of the military were paid as when due.
His concentration has been centered on identifying the most pressing problems that troops and their families are facing, and the needs associated with those challenges, and he utilizes the resources available to meet those needs. These have given emotional and psychological stability to the troops. Their morale has also been boosted. Hence the noteworthy reduction in the cases of insurgency and banditry in recent months.
Lagbaja’s carriage from a distance is that of a gentle mien. He may even be described as shy and an introvert. But veiled under is an iron cast parsonage, focused and result-oriented professional, who you may ignore at your peril, especially when it comes to the attainment of operational objectives. Those who know him well attest to the fact that he is a walking encyclopedia of military knowledge, a workaholic who breathes regimentation as second nature.
Lagbaja’s military journey commenced on September 12, 1987, when he was admitted to the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the 39th Regular Course. He was subsequently commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on September 19, 1992, into the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps. Throughout his career, he has attended various specialized courses and training programs to enhance his skills.
Notably, he completed the Company Amphibious Operations Course, Young Officers’ Course (Infantry), Basic and Advanced Airborne Courses, Amphibious Staff Operations Course, Company Commanders’ Course, and Battalion Commanders’ Course at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji.
Additionally, Major General Lagbaja completed the Junior Staff Course and Senior Staff Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College.
He participated in international courses such as the Military Observers Course at the Peacekeeping Wing of the Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji and the ECOWAS Standby Force Battalion Command Post Course in Bamako, Mali.
He has served in various units and formations, including the 93 Battalion and 72 Special Forces Battalion, where he commanded platoons.
He also served as an instructor at the Nigerian Defence Academy and held positions at the Army Headquarters Department of Army Training and Operations, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, and Headquarters 81 Division, among others.
Lagbaja’s operational experience spans several significant missions, including Operation HARMONY IV in the Bakassi Peninsula, the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC), Operation ZAKI in Benue State, and Operation LAFIYA DOLE, among others. Most recently, he led Operation MESA/Operation UDO KA in the South East Zone of Nigeria and Operation FOREST SANITY in Kaduna and Niger States.
The new COAS attained the rank of Major General on September 12, 2019, after progressing through the ranks from Second Lieutenant.
His military service has been recognized with numerous honors and awards, including the Forces Service Star, Meritorious Service Star, Distinguished Service Star, and the United Nations Peacekeeping Operation Medal.
Academically, Lagbaja attended the Local Authority Teachers College Demonstration School in Osogbo before proceeding to St Charles Grammar School, where he completed his secondary education in 1984.
He furthered his studies at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, earning the West African School Certificate (Advanced Level) in 1986.
Lagabaja holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography from the Nigerian Defence Academy and a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College.
Given Lagbaja’s credentials and the steps he has so far taken, there is every indication that the gory and crass insecurity that Nigeria is currently facing will be a past issue.
Abdulrahaman Sade the Sadaukin Bauchi wrote in from abuja
