COAS Appoints Commanding Officers for Newly Established Army Divisions
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of four additional divisions of the Nigerian Army, a major restructuring aimed at strengthening the military’s operational capacity, improving command and control, and enhancing responses to the country’s evolving security challenges.
Following the presidential approval, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has appointed General Officers Commanding (GOCs) to head the newly created formations and announced a comprehensive reorganisation of the Army’s Areas of Responsibility across the country.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the new divisions will commence operations upon attaining Initial Operational Capability (IOC), while measures are being implemented to achieve Full Operational Capability (FOC) in phases.
The statement said the expansion is designed to strengthen the Army’s force structure, broaden its operational footprint, improve rapid force projection, and enhance its ability to address emerging security threats nationwide.
Under the new structure, 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. 3 Division Jos will retain responsibility for Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states.
The newly established 5 Division, headquartered in Makurdi, will cover Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states, while 6 Division Port Harcourt will continue to oversee Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states. 7 Division Maiduguri will remain responsible for Borno and Yobe states, while 8 Division Sokoto will continue to cover Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
Also, the newly created 9 Division, headquartered in Ilorin, will be responsible for Kwara and Niger states, while 10 Division, with headquarters in Jalingo, will oversee security operations in the border areas of Taraba and Adamawa states.
Meanwhile, 81 Division Lagos will retain responsibility for Lagos and Ogun states, while 82 Division Enugu will continue to oversee Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo states. The newly established 83 Division, headquartered in Benin City, will take responsibility for Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states when it becomes operational later this year.
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To lead the new formations, the COAS approved the appointment of several senior officers.
Major General Yakubu Yahaya was redeployed from the Headquarters, Joint Task Force (North Central), Operation SAVANNA SHIELD, to Headquarters 9 Division, Ilorin, where he will serve as General Officer Commanding and Commander of Operation SAVANNA SHIELD.
Major General Chinedu Ralph Nnebeife was moved from Headquarters 2 Division/Sector 3 Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, to Headquarters 10 Division, Jalingo, as General Officer Commanding.
Similarly, Major General Moses Gara was redeployed from Headquarters Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE to Headquarters 5 Division, Makurdi, where he assumes the dual role of General Officer Commanding and Commander of Operation WHIRL STROKE.
The COAS also appointed Major General Auwalu Mahmuda, formerly of the Army Headquarters Directorate of Inspection and Compliance, as the new General Officer Commanding, 2 Division, Ibadan.
As part of the restructuring, the Nigerian Army also activated three new brigades. Brigadier General A.O. Odubiyi will command the newly established 11 Brigade, Gboko; Brigadier General A.M. Haruna has been appointed Commander of 29 Brigade, Kainji; while Brigadier General R.M. Aminu will head 10 Brigade, Lafia.
Lieutenant General 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.
He reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, protecting the lives and property of law-abiding citizens, and supporting efforts to achieve lasting peace and security across the country.
The Army Chief also expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his continued support and strategic investment in expanding the Army’s operational capabilities, describing the creation of the additional divisions as a historic milestone in the transformation of the Nigerian Army.
He noted that the expanded force structure would enhance command and control, improve operational coordination, strengthen border security, facilitate faster deployment of troops and resources, and boost the Army’s capacity to respond decisively to emerging security threats while reinforcing joint and multi-agency operations nationwide.
By PRNigeria
