President Bola Tinubu on Friday posthumously conferred the prestigious Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) award on the late Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja.
The honor was announced during a solemn interment ceremony at the National Military Cemetery, Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja, where the President extolled the late Army Chief’s exceptional service to the nation.
In his tribute, Tinubu described Lagbaja’s appointment as Chief of Army Staff as one of the finest decisions of his administration, lauding his commitment to national security and his leadership in safeguarding the nation.
Dignitaries at the ceremony included Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru, governors, and senior military officials.
Lagbaja’s death was announced last week by President Tinubu, who revealed that the esteemed military leader passed away in Lagos after a brief illness.
Born on February 28, 1968, Lagbaja was appointed Chief of Army Staff in June 2023, serving for one year and four months. His military career was marked by significant contributions to internal security operations, including Operation ZAKI in Benue State, Operation Lafiya Dole in Borno, Operation Udoka in the Southeast, and Operation Forest Sanity in Kaduna and Niger States.
The late Army Chief is remembered as a dedicated officer whose efforts left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s security landscape.
