The Nigerian Army has confirmed that the Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja is receiving medical attention abroad.
Army spokesman Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Saturday, said Lagbaja was using his annual leave to get treatment.
Lagbaja’s absence has raised concerns about army operations.
But Nwachukwu said Lagbaja’s absence has not created a leadership vacuum in the army.
“There have been instances where unforeseen human frailty kept service chiefs away for about three months,” he said.
According to him, the chief of policy and plans (army), currently answers for the chief of army staff in his absence on leave and medical checkup abroad in line with extant procedures.
He said, “Specifically, many insinuations about personnel postings, promotions, and even training activities have been raised vis-a-vis the official leave of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
“There have even been insinuations that there is a leadership vacuum, with officers confused about what to do.
“Nothing can be farther 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), Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalami Ibrahim, to act on behalf of the COAS, while he is away.
“This is not peculiar to the army 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 army spokesman said it had never been the practice for the army chief to sign postings or promotions for both officers and soldiers in the army contrary to the insinuation that Lagbaja’s absence had caused undue delay in the release of the result of the WO-MWO promotion exercise.
He added that the appropriate departmental chiefs perform those functions routinely.
“The Army Headquarters, therefore, enjoins the general public to remain confident in the Nigerian army and be assured that the Service remains on top of the security situations in the country and is ever ready to defend Nigeria against any aggression on its land territory.
“Meanwhile, the Army Headquarters wishes to thank all well-meaning Nigerians who have shown genuine concern about Lt Gen TA Lagbaja and have continued to pray for him.
“The Army Headquarters assures Nigerians and the international community that all land-related training, operational, and administrative activities are on course and that the COPP(A) is firmly and effectively running the affairs of the Service pending the return of the COAS,” he said.
