Major General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, the newly appointed Chief of Army Staff, is a veteran Special Forces officer known for his dedication to the welfare of his subordinates. With a mission-focused mindset and a commitment to leading from the front, Lagbaja is a respected figure in the Nigerian Army.
Early Life
Born on February 28, 1968, in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area, Osun State, Lagbaja had an upbringing that instilled in him a sense of discipline and responsibility. He attended the Local Authority Teachers College and the St Charles Grammar School in Osogbo, where he completed his secondary education. He furthered his studies at The Polytechnic in Ibadan, obtaining the West African School Certificate.
Lagbaja’s military career began when he gained admission to the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the 39th Regular Course in September 1987. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps on September 19, 1992.
Courses Attended
Throughout his career, Lagbaja has undergone various specialized training courses to enhance his skills and knowledge. These include:
- Company Amphibious Operations Course – Amphibious Training School (May – June 1993)
- Young Officers’ Course (Infantry) – Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (September – December 1993)
- Basic Airborne Course – Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (March – April 1995)
- Advanced Airborne Course – Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (November – December 1995)
- Amphibious Staff Operations Course – Amphibious Training School (September – December 1997)
- Company Commanders’ Course – Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (February – May 2003)
- Battalion Commanders’ Course – Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (September – December 2009)
- Junior Staff Course – Armed Forces Command and Staff (May – December 2000)
- Senior Staff Course – Armed Forces Command and Staff (August 2005 – July 2006)
- Military Observers Course – Peacekeeping Wing Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (February – May 2008)
- ECOWAS Standby Force Battalion Command Post Course – Peacekeeping Centre, Bamako, Mali (June – August 2010)
- Strategy and Leadership Course – US Army War College (April 2003 – June 2014)
Command/Staff/Instructional Appointments
Lagbaja’s impressive career has seen him take on various command, staff, and instructional appointments. These include:
- 93 Battalion – 1992 – 1995 as a Platoon commander
- 72 Special Forces Battalion – 1995 – 2001 as a Platoon commander
- Nigerian Defence Academy – 2001 – 2004 as an Instructor
- Army Headquarters Department of Army Training and Operations – 2004 – Grade 2 Staff Officer in charge of peacekeeping
- Armed Forces Command and Staff College – July 2005 – February 2006 – Grade 2 Staff Officer in charge of training
- Armed Forces Command and Staff College – 2006 – 2009 – Directing Staff
- Headquarters 81 Division – 2009 – 2012 – Deputy Chief of Staff G1 (Administration)
- 72 Special Forces Battalion Makurdi – 2012 – 2013 and 2014 – 2015 – Commanding Officer
- Headquarters 8 Task Force Division Monguno – 2016 – 2017 – Chief of Staff
- Army Headquarters Department of Army Training and Operations – January – December 2018 – Acting Director of Operations
- Headquarters 9 Brigade, Ikeja, Lagos State – December 2018 – April 2019 – Commander
- Headquarters 2 Brigade, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State – April 2019 – January 2020 – Commander
- Army Headquarters Department of Army Training and Operations – January 2020 – March 2021 – Director Force Generation
- Headquarters 82 Division – March 2021 – August 2022 – General Officer Commanding
- Headquarters 1 Division – August 2022 – Date – General Officer Commanding
Promotion History
As recognition of his exceptional service and leadership abilities, Lagbaja has been promoted several times throughout his career. His promotion history is as follows:
- Second Lieutenant – September 12, 1987
- Lieutenant – September 12, 1991
- Captain – September 12, 1995
- Major – September 12, 2000
- Lieutenant Colonel – September 12, 2005
- Colonel – September 12, 2010
- Brigadier General – September 12, 2015
- Major General – September 12, 2019
Honours/Awards
Major General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja has received numerous honors and awards throughout his military career, including the Forces Service Star and the Meritorious Service award. His dedication and commitment to serving the Nigerian Army have not gone unnoticed.
With Major General Lagbaja now serving as Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, the nation can expect strong leadership and a focus on the welfare and effectiveness of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
