President Bola Tinubu on Friday posthumously conferred the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) honour on the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja.
The president announced this at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja during the burial of the general who died last Tuesday following a brief illness.
Tinubu paused his address to invite the widow of the COAS Maria Lagbaja to the podium to receive the award on behalf of her husband.
The president, addressing the military personnel present, urged them not to let “death defeat us” and encouraged them to “lift your heads in pride in memory of your army chief.”
The ceremony was attended by a group of political leaders, security chiefs, family members and friends. The burial rites followed an earlier funeral service at the National Christian Centre which was attended by first lady Remi Tinubu.
Among those present were Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, ministers and several state governors led by Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).
The military delegation was headed by the Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa. Traditional rulers and members of the diplomatic corps were also in attendance.
In their respective speeches, both Tinubu and General Musa described Lagbaja as a “Soldier’s Soldier,” praising his dedication and leadership. Tinubu also remarked that appointing Lagbaja as COAS was one of his most rewarding decisions.
