By Akanimo Felix
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has ordered the postponement of the Federal Executive Council meeting.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, the special Adviser to the president On Information and Strategy.
The postponement is coming following the demise of Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja, the chief of army staff, who died in Lagos on Tuesday night.
It reads ” President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, has ordered rescheduling the Federal Executive Council meeting till another date to be announced.
“Initially scheduled for today, the council meeting was postponed in honour of Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, who passed away on Tuesday night.
“President Tinubu also ordered flags to be flown at half-staff nationwide for seven days in honour of the departed general.
“Earlier today, President Tinubu expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Lagbaja family and the Nigerian Armed Forces.
“He wished Lt. General Lagbaja eternal peace and honoured his significant contributions to the nation.”
Until his demise, Lagbaja was born on February 28, 1968, in Ilobu, Osun State. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Geography from the Nigerian Defence Academy and a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.
Lagabja was admitted to the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1987 as part of the 39th Regular Course, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant on September 19, 1992.
He held various positions, including platoon commander, instructor at the Nigerian Defence Academy, and commanding officer of several battalions. He rose through the ranks to become a lieutenant general.
In 2009, he was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff G1 at Headquarters 81 Division. He later served as Commanding Officer of the 72 Special Forces Battalion in Makurdi from 2012 to 2013 and again from 2014 to 2015.
He was appointed Chief of Army Staff on June 19, 2023, by President Bola Tinubu, succeeding Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya.
