The remains of the late Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, has arrived in Abuja, where burial rites will take place. The Nigerian Air Force plane carrying his body landed at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at approximately 12:15 PM today.
A Service of Songs has been scheduled for Thursday evening from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Army Headquarters Garrison Parade Ground in Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja while the Funeral Service will hold on Friday, from 10:00 AM to 12:45 PM at the National Christian Centre, located in Abuja’s Central Business District. The final interment is set to follow at the National Military Cemetery from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM the same day.
Earlier today, dignitaries gathered at the Murtala Muhammed airport at Ikeja, to pay their respects to the late military leader. They included the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, alongside white cap chiefs representing the Oba of Lagos’ palace, and high-ranking officers from the Armed Forces, police, and paramilitary. Members of the Naval Officers Wives Association (NOWA) and several retired military generals were also in attendance.
As the Army band played the national anthem, the pallbearers—senior officers from both the Army and Navy—stood quietly beside the casket, which was draped in the Nigerian national flag and the procession began, with the Deputy Governor and senior security officials following closely behind the escort officers as the casket was carried to the NAF 198 C130 aircraft for transport to Abuja.
Upon the aircraft’s departure, a salute from a parade of over 140 soldiers resonated as a final tribute to the late General Lagbaja, reflecting the deep respect he commanded among his peers and subordinates.
The military honours observed at the airport set the tone for the ceremonies to follow in Abuja, where the late General will be laid to rest in accordance with military tradition, marking the end of a distinguished career in service to Nigeria.
The late Chief of Army Staff’s passing has left a significant impact on the Nigerian Armed Forces, with tributes pouring in from across the country honouring his contributions to national security and his leadership within the military.
