The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved the appointment of General Officers Commanding (GOCs) for the Nigerian Army’s newly created divisions following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval for the establishment of four additional formations.
The move marks one of the most significant restructurings of the Nigerian Army in recent years and is aimed at strengthening the force structure, expanding operational presence nationwide, improving command and control, and boosting the military’s capacity to tackle Nigeria’s evolving security threats.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele and made available to The News Chronicle, the newly established divisions will begin operations as soon as they attain Initial Operational Capability (IOC), while efforts continue toward achieving Full Operational Capability (FOC). The phased rollout is expected to ensure seamless operationalisation, improved force projection, and uninterrupted military operations across the country.
As part of the sweeping reorganisation, the Army has also redrawn its Divisional Areas of Responsibility.
Under the new structure, 1 Division Kaduna will oversee Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states, while 2 Division Ibadan will cover Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states. 3 Division Jos will remain responsible for Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states.
The newly established 5 Division Makurdi will oversee Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states, while 6 Division Port Harcourt will cover Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states. 7 Division Maiduguri will retain responsibility for Borno and Yobe states, while 8 Division Sokoto will continue to oversee Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
Also, the newly created 9 Division Ilorin will cover Kwara and Niger states, while 10 Division Jalingo will be responsible for the border areas of 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 Benin City, expected to become operational later this year, will cover Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states.
To lead the new formations, the Army announced the appointment of experienced senior officers.
Major General Yakubu Yahaya has been redeployed from Headquarters Joint Task Force (North Central), Operation SAVANNA SHIELD, to head 9 Division Ilorin as General Officer Commanding and Commander of Operation SAVANNA SHIELD.
Major General Chinedu Ralph Nnebeife moves from Headquarters 2 Division/Sector 3 Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, to serve as General Officer Commanding 10 Division Jalingo.
Major General Moses Gara has been redeployed from Headquarters Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE to lead 5 Division Makurdi, where he will also serve as Commander of Operation WHIRL STROKE.
Similarly, Major General Auwalu Mahmuda has been posted from the Army Headquarters Directorate of Inspection and Compliance to assume command of 2 Division Ibadan.
In a further boost to the Army’s operational capability, three new brigades have also been activated. Brigadier General A.O. Odubiyi has been appointed Commander of 11 Brigade Gboko, Brigadier General A.M. Haruna will head 29 Brigade Kainji, while Brigadier General R.M. Aminu has been appointed Commander of 10 Brigade Lafia.
Lieutenant General Shaibu congratulated the newly appointed commanders and urged them to provide visionary leadership, sustain operational momentum and uphold the highest standards of professionalism, discipline and mission effectiveness.
He reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, protecting lives and property, and supporting efforts to achieve lasting peace and national security.
The Army Chief also expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for what he described as his unwavering support and strategic investment in strengthening the Nigerian Army.
He said the creation of the additional divisions represents a historic milestone in the ongoing transformation of the Army and reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to reinforcing Nigeria’s defence architecture.
According to him, the expanded force structure will significantly improve command and control, enhance operational coordination, strengthen border security, enable faster troop deployment and increase the Army’s ability to respond decisively to emerging security threats across the country.
