Chief of Army Staff assigns commanders to newly-formed divisions

Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, the Chief of Army Staff, has given his approval for the appointment of General Officers Commanding for the newly established Nigerian Army divisions, as the military seeks to bolster its command structure and enhance operations nationwide, following President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the creation of four additional Nigerian Army divisions.

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This development is part of ongoing efforts to enhance the Army’s operational capacity, command and control, and response to emerging security challenges, with the new formations set to begin operations after attaining Initial Operational Capability, while measures will be taken to achieve Full Operational Capability.

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A recent post from the Nigerian Army highlighted that the new formations are designed to strengthen the Nigerian Army’s force structure, expand its operational footprint, and improve its capacity to respond to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges, as stated in the post, which formed part of the Army’s X post on Wednesday.

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The military has explained that the phased activation of the new divisions is intended to ensure seamless operationalization, operational continuity, and rapid force projection across the country, with the goal of creating a more cohesive and effective force.

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Under the new arrangement, the 1 Division Kaduna will be responsible for overseeing Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa States, while the 2 Division Ibadan will cover Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo States, as part of the broader restructuring efforts.

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The 3 Division Jos will have jurisdiction over Plateau, Bauchi, and Gombe States, and the newly established 5 Division Makurdi will be responsible for Benue, Nasarawa, and Kogi States, as the military seeks to optimize its operational coverage.

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The 6 Division Port Harcourt will oversee Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River States, and the 7 Division Maiduguri will retain responsibility for Borno and Yobe States, with the 8 Division Sokoto continuing to cover Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara States.

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The newly created 9 Division, headquartered in Ilorin, will be responsible for Kwara and Niger States, and the 10 Division Jalingo will oversee border areas of Taraba and Adamawa States, as part of the military’s efforts to strengthen its presence in key regions.

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The 81 Division Lagos will continue to cover Lagos and Ogun States, and the 82 Division Enugu will retain responsibility for Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi, and Imo States, with the 83 Division Benin City expected to cover Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa States when activated later in the year.

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Lieutenant General Shaibu has approved the appointment of senior officers with operational experience to provide leadership for the new formations, including Major General Yakubu Yahaya, who has been appointed General Officer Commanding 9 Division Ilorin and Commander of Operation SAVANNA SHIELD.

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Major General Chinedu Ralph Nnebeife has been appointed GOC 10 Division Jalingo, after his redeployment from Headquarters 2 Division/Sector 3 Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, and Major General Moses Gara has been appointed GOC 5 Division Makurdi and Commander of Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE.

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The appointments and restructuring are aimed at improving operational effectiveness and ensuring faster responses to security threats, with the newly established divisions set to commence operations immediately on attainment of Initial Operational Capability.

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The military has stated that the expansion will support its broader objective of creating a more effective and responsive force capable of addressing Nigeria’s security needs, with deliberate measures being implemented to progressively attain Full Operational Capability.