The Nigerian Army has appointed General Officers Commanding (GOCs) for four newly established divisions following President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the creation of additional formations.
President Bola Tinubu, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, last week increased the divisions of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12.
The appointments, approved by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Waidi Shaibu, come as part of a wider reorganisation of the Army’s operational structure to expand its footprint, improve command and control, and enhance force projection across the country.
To lead the new formations, the COAS appointed Maj Gen Yakubu Yahaya as GOC, 9 Division, Ilorin, and Commander of Operation Savannah Shield.
Maj Gen Chinedu Ralph Nnebeife was appointed GOC 10 Division, Jalingo, while Maj Gen Moses Gara will head the 5 Division, Makurdi, in a dual role as General Officer Commanding and Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke.
Maj Gen Auwalu Mahmuda was also redeployed to head the 2 Division in Ibadan.
In addition, the Army activated three new brigades to reinforce the new divisions. Brig Gen A.O. Odubiyi was appointed Commander of the newly established 11 Brigade, Gboko; Brig Gen A.M. Haruna will command the 29 Brigade, Kainji; while Brig Gen R.M. Aminu was posted to lead the 10 Brigade, Lafia.
According to a statement on Wednesday by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col Appolonia Anele, the newly created divisions would commence operations after attaining initial operational capability, while efforts continue to achieve full operational capability.
“The newly established divisions will immediately commence operations in the respective locations on attainment of Initial Operational Capability (IOC), while deliberate measures are being implemented to progressively attain Full Operational Capability,” the statement read.
Congratulating the newly appointed commanders, Shaibu charged them to “provide visionary leadership, sustain operational momentum and uphold the highest standards of professionalism, discipline and mission effectiveness in the discharge of their responsibilities.”
He reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to “safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nigeria, protecting the lives and property of all law-abiding citizens and supporting the attainment of enduring national peace and security.”
The Army chief also expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for approving the expansion of the Army’s force structure.
He described the establishment of the new divisions as “a historic milestone in the transformation of the Nigerian Army”, adding that it reflected the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening the country’s defence architecture.
Shaibu added that the expanded force structure would “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 and evolving security threats across the country.”
He expressed confidence that the new formations would further strengthen joint and multi-agency operations, reinforce national stability and contribute to the restoration of lasting peace and security nationwide.
Under the new structure, the newly established 5 Division, headquartered in Makurdi, will oversee Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states, while 9 Division, Ilorin, will cover Kwara and Niger states.
The 10 Division, with headquarters in Jalingo, will be responsible for Taraba and Adamawa states, while the 83 Division, headquartered in Benin City, will supervise Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states when activated later in the year.
The Army also reviewed the operational responsibilities of existing divisions.
The 1 Division, Kaduna will now oversee Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states; 2 Division, Ibadan will cover Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states; while 3 Division, Jos will be responsible for Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states.
Similarly, 6 Division, Port Harcourt will oversee Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states; 7 Division Maiduguri will retain responsibility for Borno and Yobe states; 8 Division Sokoto will cover Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states; 81 Division Lagos will supervise Lagos and Ogun states; while 82 Division Enugu will remain responsible for Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo states.
President Tinubu in approving the four new divisions said it was a landmark move to enhance the country’s security architecture and improve the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said in a statement that this approval underscores the President’s unwavering commitment to equipping the Armed Forces to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges effectively and to strengthen national defence capabilities further.
The expansion builds on the Administration’s sustained investments in the Armed Forces, including approval for the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, acquisition of critical military platforms and equipment, improvements in troop welfare, and ongoing support for operational readiness and force modernisation.
Under the new structure, the Nigerian Army will operate 12 divisions, strategically positioned across the country as follows:
- 1 Division Headquarters – Kaduna (Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States)
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2 Division Headquarters – Ibadan (Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States)
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3 Division Headquarters – Jos (Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States)
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5 Division Headquarters (new)– Makurdi (Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States)
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6 Division Headquarters – Port Harcourt (Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States)
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7 Division Headquarters – Maiduguri (Borno and Yobe States)
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8 Division Headquarters – Sokoto (Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States)
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9 Division Headquarters (new)– Ilorin (Kwara and Niger States)
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10 Division Headquarters (new)– Jalingo (Taraba and Adamawa States)
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81 Division Headquarters – Lagos (Lagos and Ogun States)
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82 Division Headquarters – Enugu (Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States)
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83 Division Headquarters (new)– Benin City (Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States).
The establishment of the new Divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City will significantly improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure, improve counter-insurgency and internal security operations, and ensure faster military response to emerging threats nationwide.
Implementation of the new force structure will be done in two phases. The first phase, covering the establishment of the 5, 9, and 10 Divisions and the reorganisation of existing formations, will be completed by September 2026. The second phase, involving the establishment of the 83 Division and further reorganisation, is expected to be completed by December 2026.
President Tinubu commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, and all officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their dedication, professionalism, and steadfast commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The President reaffirmed his Administration’s determination to continue investing in the Armed Forces, ensuring they remain adequately equipped, highly motivated, and fully capable of protecting the nation and guaranteeing the safety and security of all Nigerians.
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