The 23rd Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, has pledged that his leadership of the Nigerian Army will be driven by discipline and professionalism as he promised to discharge his responsibilities with fairness to all.
He made the pledge after assuming command during a ceremony held at the Army Headquarters in Abuja as he received the baton from the 22nd Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya now retired.
Major General Lagbaja pointed out that the Nigerian Army has in no doubt witnessed an unprecedented growth, good management of resources, procurement of military hardware as well as the mass Surrender of Boko Haram Terrorists under the former Chief of Army Staff General Yahaya.
He therefore vowed to do all in his power to improve on legacies of an efficient Nigerian army.
General Lagbaja urged those who are disengaging from the service to always avail themselves when the Nigerian Army needs to tap from their wealth of experience while promising to reward hard work on merit.
Earlier, former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Yahaya expressed happiness that he was leaving the Nigeria Army better than he met it.
General Yahaya said Nigeria has recorded remarkable successes in the fight against insecurity under his command and the adversaries are in disarray across all theatres of operations.
He charged officers and men of the Nigeria Army to remain resolute, apolitical and professional in the discharge of their duties while calling for support for the new COAS to achieve a nation free of internal threats.
He also urged the army to sustain the ongoing gains over various security threats, including terrorists, bandits and crude oil thieves and to continue in the synergy amongst the services.
“Let me state that I am truly fulfilled and delighted to remark that I am leaving the Nigerian Army better than I met it. However, as I always say,all these achievements were as a result of your commitments and dedication to duty and for this, I say thank you all and urge you to remain resolute in the discharge of your constitutional duties. You must all remain apolitical, professional, patriotic and effective in your operations and activities at all times. You must always conduct yourselves professionally in accordance with the ethics, customs and traditions and as noble and honourable gentlemen officers dedicated to the defence and integrity of our dear country Nigeria as one indivisible entity as contained in the Constitution which we all pledged and swore to preserve. You must continue to make deliberate efforts to improve your performance for heightened security, especially at this time of a new administration in our growing democracy. I charge you all to re-double your efforts in supporting the incoming Chief of Army Staff to achieve even greater heights.
General Yahaya was appointed Chief of Army Staff on May 27, 2021, after the tragic death of Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, who died in an air crash alongside 10 other officers and men of the army on May 21.
