Tinubu postpones FEC meeting over Lagbaja’s death

President Bola Tinubu has rescheduled the Federal Executive Council meeting to a date yet to be announced.

Originally planned for today, the council meeting was postponed in honour of Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, who passed away on Tuesday night.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday.

General Lagbaja, whose death was earlier announced by the Presidency, served as the 27th Chief of Army Staff from 19 June 2023 until his passing on 5 November 2024.

President Tinubu also directed that flags be flown at half-mast nationwide for seven days in memory of the late general.

In a previous statement, President Tinubu expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Lagbaja family and the Nigerian Armed Forces, wishing Lieutenant General Lagbaja eternal peace and honouring his substantial contributions to the nation.

Lagbaja commenced his military career upon enrolling at the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1987. On 19 September 1992, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Nigerian Infantry Corps as part of the 39th Regular Course.

Lieutenant General Lagbaja also served as a platoon commander in the 93 Battalion and the 72 Special Forces Battalion.

He played key roles in various internal security operations, including Operation ZAKI in Benue State, Lafiya Dole in Borno, Udoka in the Southeast, and Operation Forest Sanity in Kaduna and Niger States.