The Nigerian Army has officially renamed the Ikeja Military Cantonment to T.A. Lagbaja Cantonment in honourr of the late Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, former Chief of Army Staff, to mark his 57th posthumous birthday.
As part of the tribute, the cantonment underwent significant upgrades, including the installation of an engraved portrait of General Lagbaja, crafted from over 400,000 half-inch nails, at the newly refurbished digital gate.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu lauded Lieutenant General Lagbaja as one of the nation’s finest military officers. “By renaming the cantonment in his honor, we pay tribute to a leader whose life exemplified courage, discipline, and patriotism,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Early Life and Military Career
Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja was born in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area of present-day Osun State on 28 February 1968. He spent his early years in Osogbo, where he attended St. Charles Grammar School and Local Authority Teachers College.
His journey into the military began in 1987 when he was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the 39th Regular Course. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant on 19 September 1992 into the Nigerian Infantry Corps.
Between 1992 and 1995, Lagbaja served as platoon commander of the 93 Battalion, and from 1995 to 2001, he was platoon commander of the 72 Special Forces Battalion. In 2001, he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Geography from the Nigerian Defence Academy. Later, he pursued Strategic Studies at the U.S. Army War College at the Master’s level.
Lagbaja held several key command positions, including:
- Commander, Headquarters 9 Brigade, Ikeja, Lagos State
- Commander, Headquarters 2 Brigade, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State
- General Officer Commanding, Headquarters 82 Division (March 2021 – August 2022)
- General Officer Commanding, Headquarters 1 Division (August 2022 – June 2023)
His training in peacekeeping operations included attending the Military Observers Course at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji (February – May 2008) and the ECOWAS Standby Force Battalion Command Post Course at the Peacekeeping Centre, Bamako, Mali (June – August 2010).
Starting his career as a second lieutenant, Lagbaja rose through the ranks to become a lieutenant general in July 2023.
Awards and Recognitions
General Lagbaja was a proud holder of a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and a Master’s in International Affairs and Diplomacy. His numerous military honors and awards included:
- Nigerian Army Medal
- Grand Service Star
- Passed Staff Course (Dagger)
- National Defence College (Chile)
- Field Command Medal of Honour
- General Staff Medal of Honour
Lagbaja’s tenure was marked by his leadership in crucial military operations and reforms that significantly strengthened Nigeria’s defense. His legacy of bravery, discipline, and unwavering commitment to national security continues to resonate long after his passing.
The renaming of the Ikeja Military Cantonment stands as a lasting tribute to his extraordinary service and sacrifice for Nigeria.