By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved the appointment of General Officers Commanding (GOCs) to the newly established Nigerian Army Divisions.
This follows the approval by His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, for the establishment of four additional Divisions.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele.
The landmark development, according to her, 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 respond to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges effectively.
Col. Anele stated that the newly established Divisions will immediately commence operations in their respective locations upon attaining Initial Operational Capability (IOC), while deliberate measures are being implemented to progressively attain Full Operational Capability (FOC).
She disclosed that the phased approach will ensure seamless operationalisation, operational continuity, and rapid force projection across the country.
The statement outlined a comprehensive reorganisation of the Nigerian Army’s Divisional Areas of Responsibility as follows:
- 1 Division, Kaduna: Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States
- 2 Division, Ibadan: Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States
- 3 Division, Jos: Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States
- 5 Division, Makurdi_New: Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States
- 6 Division, Port Harcourt: Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States
- 7 Division, Maiduguri: Borno and Yobe States
- 8 Division, Sokoto: Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States
- 9 Division, Ilorin _New_: Kwara and Niger States
- 10 Division, Jalingo _New_: Border areas of Taraba and Adamawa States
- 81 Division, Lagos: Lagos and Ogun States
- 82 Division, Enugu: Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States
- 83 Division, Benin City New_: Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States _to be activated later in the year_
To provide effective leadership, the COAS approved the appointment of seasoned senior officers as GOCs:
- Major General Yakubu Yahaya: Redeployed from HQ Joint Task Force (North Central), Operation SAVANNA SHIELD, to HQ 9 Division, Ilorin, as GOC and Commander, OPSS
- Major General Chinedu Ralph Nnebeife: Redeployed from HQ 2 Division/Sector 3 JTF (NW), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, to HQ 10 Division, Jalingo, as GOC
- Major General Moses Gara: Redeployed from HQ JTF Operation WHIRL STROKE, to HQ 5 Division, Makurdi, as GOC and Commander, OPWS
- Major General Auwalu Mahmuda: Redeployed from Army HQ Directorate of Inspection and Compliance to HQ 2 Division, Ibadan, as GOC
To strengthen the new formations, three new Brigades*were also activated:
- Brigadier General AO Odubiyi: From Army HQ Operations Centre to HQ 11 Brigade, Gboko, as Commander
- Brigadier General AM Haruna: From Nigerian Army Armour School to HQ 29 Brigade, Kainji, as Commander
- Brigadier General RM Aminu: From National Defence College to HQ 10 Brigade, Lafia, as Commander
The COAS 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.
Lieutenant General Shaibu also expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his steadfast support and strategic investment in expanding the Nigerian Army’s operational capabilities.
He noted that the establishment of the additional Divisions represents a historic milestone in the transformation of the Nigerian Army and reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening national defence architecture.
“The new Divisions will significantly enhance command and control, improve operational coordination, strengthen border security, facilitate faster deployment of troops and resources, and increase the Nigerian Army’s capacity to respond decisively to emerging security threats across the country,” the statement averred.
