The Board, Management and Staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) have expressed sadness over the death of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja.
The national oil company expressed its sadness over the sad occurrence and its condolences to the family of the deceased and President Bola Tinubu in a press release by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye.
There has been speculations, for several weeks, over the state of health of the Army Chief who was appointed by the president as the 27th Chief of Army Staff in June, 2023.
The death of the late Lt. General Lagbaja was officially announced by President Tinubu, earlier today, in a release by his Special Adviser (Media & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga.
The president also later announced the indefinite postponement of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) and directed a seven-day national mourning in honour of the departed Army Chief.
“The Board, Management and Staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) are saddened by the news of the death of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Taoreed Lagbaja.
“We, at the NNPCL, condole with the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR and the Nigerian Army on this monumental loss of a brilliant officer and a gentleman who served the nation with commitment and distinction.
“We note in particular that the late Chief of Army Staff was a great support to us at NNPCL in the fight against pipeline vandalism and oil theft, not leaving us in doubt about his commitment to the nation’s economic prosperity and development.
“Our prayers go to his immediate and extended families in their moments of grief, that God will grant them the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss and that He will grant his soul eternal repose in His Bosom.
“Lt General Lagbaja will be sorely missed,” NNPCL stated in the press release.
