The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved the appointment of General Officers Commanding (GOCs) to the newly established Nigerian Army Divisions, following President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the creation of four additional divisions. The landmark development forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the Nigerian Army’s force structure, expand its operational footprint, enhance command and control, and improve the Service’s capacity to effectively respond to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
The newly established divisions will immediately commence operations upon attainment of Initial Operational Capability, while deliberate measures are being implemented to progressively achieve Full Operational Capability. This phased approach will ensure seamless operationalisation, operational continuity, and rapid force projection across the country.
Under the new structure, 1 Division Kaduna will cover Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa States, while 2 Division Ibadan will oversee Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo States. 3 Division Jos will handle Plateau, Bauchi, and Gombe States. The newly established 5 Division, headquartered in Makurdi, will assume responsibility for Benue, Nasarawa, and Kogi States, while 6 Division Port Harcourt will cover Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River States. 7 Division Maiduguri will remain responsible for Borno and Yobe States, and 8 Division Sokoto will retain Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara States.
The newly established 9 Division, headquartered in Ilorin, will cover Kwara and Niger States, while 10 Division, headquartered in Jalingo, will be responsible for security in Taraba and Adamawa States. 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, with Headquarters in Benin City, will cover Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa States when activated later in the year.
The COAS has appointed seasoned senior officers to lead the new formations. Major General Yakubu Yahaya has been redeployed from Headquarters Joint Task Force (North Central), Operation SAVANNA SHIELD, to Headquarters 9 Division, Ilorin, as General Officer Commanding and Commander, Operation SAVANNA SHIELD. Major General Chinedu Ralph Nnebeife has been redeployed from Headquarters 2 Division/Sector 3 Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, to Headquarters 10 Division, Jalingo, as General Officer Commanding. Major General Moses Gara has been redeployed from Headquarters Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE to Headquarters 5 Division, Makurdi, as General Officer Commanding and Commander, Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE.
Major General Auwalu Mahmuda has been redeployed from the Army Headquarters Directorate of Inspection and Compliance to Headquarters 2 Division, Ibadan, as General Officer Commanding. Three new brigades have also been activated to strengthen the newly established divisions.