Chief of Army Staff (Nigeria)
| Chief of Army Staff | |
|---|---|
 Seal of the Chief of Army Staff
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 Flag of the Chief of Army Staff
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| Nigerian Army | |
| Abbreviation | COAS |
| Member of |
|
| Reports to | Chief of Defence Staff |
| Seat | Nigerian Army Headquarters, Abuja |
| Appointer | President of Nigeria |
| Inaugural holder | Kenneth G. Exham Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi (indigenous) |
| Formation | 1956 |
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) has been the title of the professional head of the Nigerian Army since 1966. Prior to 1966, the title was General Officer Commanding, Nigerian Army (GOCNA). Since 1980, the post has been immediately subordinate to the Chief of Defence Staff, the post held by the professional head of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The position is often occupied by the most senior commissioned officer appointed by the President of Nigeria.
The current Chief of Army Staff is Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, who succeeded Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, in June 2023.
Role
In the chain of command, the Chief of Army Staff reports to the Chief of Defence Staff, who in turn, reports to the Defence Minister, accountable to the President of Nigeria. The Statutory duty of the Officer is to formulate and execute policies towards the highest attainment of National Security and operational competence of the Nigerian Army.
Chiefs of the Nigerian Army
Following is a chronological list of officers holding the position of General Officer Commanding (GOC) or Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
General Officer Commanding
| No. | Portrait | General Officer Commanding | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Major general Kenneth G. Exham |
1956 | 1959 | 2–3 years | |
| 2 |
Major general Norman Foster |
1959 | 1963 | 3–4 years | |
| 3 |
Major general John Alexander Mackenzie |
1963 | 1963 | 0 years | |
| 4 |
Major general Sir Christopher Welby-Everard (1909–1996) |
1963 | February 1965 | 1–2 years | |
| 5 |
Major general Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi (1924–1966) Later military ruler |
February 1965 | 15 January 1966 | 0–1 years |
Chief of Army Staff
| No. | Portrait | Chief of Army Staff | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Lieutenant colonel Yakubu Gowon (born 1934) Later military ruler |
January 1966 | July 1966 | 6 months | ||
| 2 |
Lieutenant colonel Joseph Akahan (1937–1968) |
July 1966 | May 1968 † | 1 year, 9 months | ||
| 3 |
Major general Hassan Usman Katsina RCDS, PSC (1933–1995) |
May 1968 | January 1971 | 2 years, 8 months | ||
| 4 |
Major general David Ejoor (1932–2019) |
January 1971 | July 1975 | 4 years, 6 months | ||
| 5 |
Lieutenant general Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (born 1938) |
July 1975 | October 1979 | 4 years, 3 months | ||
| 6 |
Lieutenant general Ipoola Alani Akinrinade (born 1939) later Chief of Defence Staff |
October 1979 | April 1980 | 6 months | ||
| 7 |
Lieutenant general Gibson Jalo , JSS (1939–2000) later Chief of Defence Staff |
April 1980 | October 1981 | 1 year, 6 months | ||
| 8 |
Lieutenant general Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi (1940–2021) |
October 1981 | October 1983 | 2 years | ||
| 9 |
Major general Ibrahim Babangida (born 1941) Later military ruler |
January 1984 | August 1985 | 1 year, 7 months | ||
| 10 |
Lieutenant general Sani Abacha , DSS, mni (1943–1998) Later military ruler |
August 1985 | August 1990 | 5 years | ||
| 11 |
Lieutenant general Salihu Ibrahim , FHWC (1935–2018) |
August 1990 | September 1993 | 3 years, 1 month | ||
| 12 |
Lieutenant general Aliyu Mohammed Gusau DSS, rcds (born 1943) |
September 1993 | November 1993 | 2 months | ||
| 13 |
Major general Chris Alli CRG, DSS, ndc, psc(+) (1944–2023) |
November 1993 | August 1994 | 9 months | ||
| 14 |
Major general Alwali Kazir DSS, Usawc, psc(+) (born 1947) |
August 1994 | March 1996 | 1 year, 7 months | ||
| 15 |
Lieutenant general Ishaya Bamaiyi DSS, Usawc, psc(+) (born 1949) |
March 1996 | May 1999 | 3 years, 2 months | ||
| 16 |
Lieutenant general Victor Malu DSS, mni, fwc, psc (1947–2017) |
May 1999 | April 2001 | 1 year, 11 months | ||
| 17 |
Lieutenant general Alexander Ogomudia (born 1949) Later Chief of Defence Staff |
April 2001 | June 2003 | 2 years, 2 months | ||
| 18 |
Lieutenant general Martin Luther Agwai (born 1948) Later Chief of Defence Staff |
June 2003 | June 2006 | 3 years | ||
| 19 |
Lieutenant general Owoye Andrew Azazi (1952–2012) Later Chief of Defence Staff |
1 June 2006 | May 2007 | 11 months | ||
| 20 |
Lieutenant general Luka Yusuf CFR, GSS, GPP, DSO, psc(+), fwc, Msc (1952–2009) |
June 2007 | August 2008 | 1 year, 3 months | ||
| 21 |
Lieutenant general Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau CFR, GSS, psc, ndc, fwc(+) (born 1954) |
August 2008 | September 2010 | 2 years, 1 month | ||
| 22 |
Lieutenant general Azubuike Ihejirika CFR, GSS, psc(+), fwc, fniqs (born 1956) |
September 2010 | January 2014 | 3 years, 4 months | ||
| 23 |
Lieutenant general Kenneth Minimah GSS, psc(+), fwc (born 1959) |
January 2014 | July 2015 | 1 year, 6 months | ||
| 24 |
Lieutenant general Tukur Yusuf Buratai NAM, GSS, psc(+), ndc (BD) (born 1960) |
16 July 2015 | 28 January 2021 | 5 years, 6 months | ||
| 25 |
Lieutenant general Ibrahim Attahiru (1966–2021) |
28 January 2021 | 21 May 2021 † | 3 months | ||
| 26 |
Lieutenant general Farouk Yahaya (born 1966) |
27 May 2021 | 23 June 2023 | 2 years | ||
| 27 |
Lieutenant general Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja (born 1968) |
23 June 2023 | Incumbent | 6 months |
