The Nigerian Army has announced a major restructuring of its operational command structure with the establishment of four new divisions and the appointment of General Officers Commanding (GOCs) to lead them, in a move aimed at strengthening national security and improving military response across the country.
The approval was granted by President Bola Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, while the appointments were approved by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the creation of the additional divisions is part of the Nigerian Army’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its force structure, expand its operational footprint, enhance command and control, and improve its capacity to tackle Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
The statement said the newly established divisions would commence operations immediately in their designated locations upon attaining Initial Operational Capability (IOC), while measures are being implemented to achieve Full Operational Capability (FOC) in phases. It explained that the phased approach is designed to ensure seamless operationalisation, operational continuity and rapid force projection across the country.
As part of the reorganisation, the Army also reviewed the Areas of Responsibility for its divisions.
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 be responsible for Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states.
The newly created 5 Division, headquartered in Makurdi, will oversee Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states, while 6 Division Port Harcourt will retain responsibility for Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states. 7 Division Maiduguri will continue to cover Borno and Yobe states, while 8 Division Sokoto will remain responsible for Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
The newly established 9 Division, headquartered in Ilorin, will oversee Kwara and Niger states, while 10 Division, headquartered in Jalingo, will be responsible for security in the border areas of Taraba and Adamawa states.
Meanwhile, 81 Division Lagos will continue to cover Lagos and Ogun states, while 82 Division Enugu will retain responsibility for Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo states. The newly established 83 Division, with headquarters in Benin City, will oversee Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states when it becomes operational later this year.
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 redeployed 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 will serve as General Officer Commanding and Commander of Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE.
Major General Auwalu Mahmuda was redeployed from the Army Headquarters Directorate of Inspection and Compliance to Headquarters 2 Division, Ibadan, as General Officer Commanding.
To further strengthen the new formations, the Army also activated three new brigades.
Brigadier General A.O. Odubiyi was appointed Commander of the newly established 11 Brigade in Gboko after his redeployment from the Army Headquarters Operations Centre.
Brigadier General A.M. Haruna, formerly of the Nigerian Army Armour School, was posted to Headquarters 29 Brigade, Kainji, as Commander, while Brigadier General R.M. Aminu was redeployed from the National Defence College to command the newly established 10 Brigade in 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 safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, protecting the lives and property of law-abiding citizens, and supporting the attainment of lasting peace and security across the country.
The Army Chief also expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his support and strategic investment in expanding the Army’s operational capabilities, describing the establishment of the additional divisions as a historic milestone in the transformation of the Nigerian Army and a reflection of the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s defence architecture.
According to him, the new divisions will 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 effectively to emerging and evolving security threats while reinforcing joint and multi-agency operations nationwide.