…By Dorcas Funmi for TDPel Media. On Friday, top officers of the Nigerian Army gathered at the defense headquarters in Abuja for the official handover ceremony of the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj. Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.
This event marked the transition of leadership from Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya to Major General Lagbaja.
The appointment of Lagbaja as the COAS had been approved by President Bola Tinubu on Monday.
Retirement of Senior Military Officers:
With the appointment of new service chiefs by President Tinubu, it is expected that approximately 100 senior military officers may be compelled to retire.
This retirement will affect high-ranking officials across the Nigerian Army, Air Force, and Nigerian Navy, including Generals, Brigadiers-General, Air Vice Marshals, Real Admirals, and Admirals.
The retirement of these officers aligns with the military tradition of retiring officers who are senior to the newly appointed service chiefs.
Reorganization and Promotions:
Following the retirement of the senior officers, promotions will be implemented to fill the resulting vacancies and facilitate the reorganization of the services under the new leadership.
Major General Christopher Musa, the new Chief of Defence Staff, will assume the rank of a full four-star General.
Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, the incoming Chief of Army Staff, will be decorated with the three-star rank of Lieutenant General.
Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla will take up the rank of Air Marshal.
This adherence to military tradition ensures a smooth transition of authority.
Membership of Training Courses:
According to tradition, it is anticipated that several high-ranking military officers, specifically those belonging to Course 37, Course 38, and Course 39, may retire from service.
The reason behind this expectation is that the new Chief of Defence Staff belongs to the 38 Regular Course, while the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, and Chief of Air Staff are members of the 39 Regular Course.
Previous Retirements:
This retirement of senior military officers comes six months after the retirement of 24 Major Generals and 38 Brigadier Generals in December 2022.
These officers had served the nation for a commendable 35 years before stepping down from active duty.
Conclusion:
The Nigerian Army witnessed the official handover ceremony for the new Chief of Army Staff, Major General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, as he took over from Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya.
The retirement of senior officers and the subsequent promotions demonstrate the military’s adherence to tradition and the reorganization of leadership positions.
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