President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate postponement of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting following the demise of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja.
It was learnt that the postponement was indefinite as the President noted that a new date for the meeting would be announced later.
The meeting was initially slated for today (Wednesday), but had to be postponed in honour of Late Lagbaja, who passed away on Tuesday night.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy in a statement said President Tinubu has also “ordered flags to be flown at half-staff nationwide for seven days in honour of the departed general.”
Lagbaja, born on February 28, 1968, in Ilobu, Osun State, was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023, as the 27th Chief of Army Staff.
The presidency on Wednesday confirmed his death.
“Announcement of the Passing of Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, regrets to announce the passing of Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, Chief of the Army Staff, at age 56.
“He passed away on Tuesday night in Lagos after a period of illness. Born on February 28, 1968, Lt. General Lagbaja was appointed Chief of Army Staff on June 19, 2023, by President Tinubu,” a statement by Bayo Onanuga said.
The Bureau Newspaper had exclusively reported how the Army General was flown abroad by his family members to attend to his medical needs.
Sources described his ailment as “strange” to The Bureau Newspaper.
“The Chief of Army Staff is nowhere to be found for many days now. He hasn’t been seen at the Army headquarters or any military function in the last three weeks. I can confirm to you that he is seriously sick and was taken to the hospital. However, his family members arranged for him to be moved out of the country for medical treatment,” one of the sources had said.