The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved the appointment of General Officers Commanding (GOCs) for four newly established Nigerian Army divisions following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval for their creation.
The development is part of efforts to expand the Army’s operational footprint, strengthen command and control and enhance its capacity to respond to emerging security threats across the country.
The Army said the new divisions would commence operations in their respective locations upon attaining Initial Operational Capability (IOC), while measures were being put in place to progressively achieve Full Operational Capability (FOC).
It said the phased approach was designed to ensure seamless operationalisation, continuity and rapid force projection.
Under the reorganised structure, 1 Division, Kaduna, will be responsible for Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states, while 2 Division, Ibadan, will cover Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states.
3 Division, Jos, will oversee Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states, while the newly established 5 Division, Makurdi, will be responsible for Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states.
Similarly, 6 Division, Port Harcourt, will cover Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, while 7 Division, Maiduguri, will oversee Borno and Yobe states.
8 Division, Sokoto, will retain responsibility for Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
The newly established 9 Division, Ilorin, will cover Kwara and Niger states, while 10 Division, Jalingo, will be responsible for border areas of Taraba and Adamawa states.
Meanwhile, 81 Division, Lagos, will continue to oversee Lagos and Ogun states, while 82 Division, Enugu, will retain responsibility for Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo states.
The newly established 83 Division, Benin City, will cover Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states when activated later in the year.
To lead the newly created formations, the COAS appointed several senior officers to command positions.
Major General Yakubu Yahaya was deployed from Headquarters Joint Task Force (North Central), Operation SAVANNA SHIELD, to Headquarters 9 Division, Ilorin, as GOC and Commander, Operation SAVANNA SHIELD.
Major General Chinedu Ralph Nnebeife was redeployed from Headquarters 2 Division/Sector 3 Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, to Headquarters 10 Division, Jalingo, as GOC.
Major General Moses Gara was redeployed to Headquarters 5 Division, Makurdi, as GOC and Commander, Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE.
Also, Major General Auwalu Mahmuda was redeployed from the Army Headquarters Directorate of Inspection and Compliance to Headquarters 2 Division, Ibadan, as GOC.
The Army said three new brigades had also been activated to strengthen the newly established divisions.
Brigadier General AO Odubiyi, from the Army Headquarters Operations Centre, will command 11 Brigade, Gboko, while Brigadier General AM Haruna, posted from the Nigerian Army Armour School, will command 29 Brigade, Kainji.
Brigadier General RM Aminu, redeployed from the National Defence College, will command 10 Brigade, Lafia.
Shaibu congratulated the newly appointed commanders and charged them to provide visionary leadership, sustain operational momentum and uphold the highest standards of professionalism, discipline and mission effectiveness.
The COAS reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, protecting the lives and property of law-abiding citizens and supporting efforts to achieve lasting peace and security.
He also expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his support and strategic investment in expanding the Army’s operational capabilities.
According to him, the establishment of the additional divisions represents a historic milestone in the transformation of the Nigerian Army and demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening the country’s national defence architecture.
Shaibu said the expanded force structure would enhance command and control, improve operational coordination, strengthen border security, facilitate faster deployment of troops and resources, and increase the Army’s capacity to respond decisively to emerging security threats.
He added that the new structure would further strengthen joint and multi-agency operations, reinforce national stability and contribute to the restoration of lasting peace and security across the country.
