The Nigerian Army has reacted to the absence of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja,, dismissing claims of a leadership vacuum in the NA at present, saying such claims are mere speculation, as all routine and scheduled activities of the service are on course.
It therefore assured the general public that the absence of the COAS has not created any leadership vacuum within the service.
In a statement released on Saturday by the Director of Army Public Relations, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu explained that Lagbaja is on official leave, and necessary protocols have been put in place for the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Major General Abdulsalami Ibrahim, to act on behalf of the COAS during his absence.
“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.
“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.
“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,” the statement further clarified
Onyema also noted that the COAS’s absence has not stalled promotions for officers, adding that the results of the Captain-to-Major promotion exam had been released following the approval of the Chief of Policy and Plans
