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 the expansion of the Army’s force structure in a major move aimed at strengthening the country’s security architecture.
The development, announced in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, marks a significant milestone in the ongoing transformation of the Nigerian Army as it seeks to enhance operational effectiveness, improve command and control, and respond more swiftly to the nation’s evolving security challenges.
According to the statement, the newly created divisions will commence operations immediately upon attaining Initial Operational Capability (IOC), while deliberate measures are being implemented to achieve Full Operational Capability (FOC) in phases to ensure seamless operationalisation and sustained force projection across the country.
As part of the reorganisation, the Army has redefined the Areas of Responsibility of its divisions. Under the new arrangement, 1 Division Kaduna will oversee Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States, while 2 Division Ibadan will be responsible for Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States. The 3 Division Jos will cover Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States.
The newly established 5 Division, headquartered in Makurdi, will take charge of Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States, while 6 Division Port Harcourt will oversee Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States. The 7 Division Maiduguri will continue operations in Borno and Yobe States, while 8 Division Sokoto will retain responsibility for Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States.
Also under the new structure, the newly created 9 Division, headquartered in Ilorin, will oversee Kwara and Niger States, while the 10 Division, based in Jalingo, will be responsible for the border areas of Taraba and Adamawa States. The 81 Division Lagos will continue to cover Lagos and Ogun States, while 82 Division Enugu will remain responsible for Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States. A new 83 Division, headquartered in Benin City, will oversee Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States when it becomes operational later this year.
To provide leadership for the new formations, Lieutenant General Shaibu approved the appointment of experienced senior officers as General Officers Commanding. Major General Yakubu Yahaya has been redeployed from the Headquarters Joint Task Force (North Central), Operation SAVANNA SHIELD, to head the new 9 Division in Ilorin, where he will also serve as Commander of Operation SAVANNA SHIELD
Similarly, Major General Chinedu Ralph Nnebeife has been redeployed from Headquarters 2 Division and Sector 3 of Operation FANSAN YAMMA to serve as the General Officer Commanding, 10 Division, Jalingo. Major General Moses Gara moves from Headquarters Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE to command the newly established 5 Division in Makurdi while also serving as Commander of Operation WHIRL STROKE.
The COAS also redeployed Major General Auwalu Mahmuda from the Army Headquarters Directorate of Inspection and Compliance to assume command as General Officer Commanding, 2 Division, Ibadan..
In furtherance of the restructuring, the Nigerian Army activated three new brigades. Brigadier General A.O. Odubiyi has been appointed Commander of the newly established 11 Brigade, Gboko, Brigadier General A.M. Haruna will head the new 29 Brigade, Kainji, while Brigadier General R.M. Aminu has been appointed Commander of the newly established 10 Brigade, Lafia.
Congratulating the newly appointed commanders, Lieutenant General Shaibu urged them to provide visionary leadership, sustain operational momentum and uphold the highest standards of professionalism, discipline and mission effectiveness in carrying out their duties.
He reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s unwavering commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, protecting the lives and property of law-abiding citizens and supporting the nation’s quest for enduring peace and security.
The Army Chief also expressed profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, for his steadfast support and strategic investment in expanding the Nigerian Army’s operational capabilities. He described the establishment of the additional divisions as a historic milestone that reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s defence architecture.
According to him, the expanded force structure will significantly improve command and control, enhance operational coordination, strengthen border security, facilitate faster deployment of troops and resources, and increase the Army’s ability to respond decisively to emerging security threats across the country.
Lieutenant General Shaibu expressed confidence that the new divisions would further strengthen joint and multi-agency operations, reinforce national stability and contribute substantially to the restoration of lasting peace and security across Nigeria.
