The Nigerian Army has announced the appointment of General Officers Commanding (GOCs) for its newly created divisions following the Federal Government’s approval of a major expansion of the force structure aimed at strengthening security operations across the country.
The appointments, approved by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, come on the heels of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s authorisation for the Nigerian Army to expand from eight to 12 divisions, alongside the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel to bolster its operational capacity.
The new formations include the 5 Division, Makurdi; 9 Division, Ilorin; 10 Division, Jalingo; and 83 Division, Benin City, each created to improve command, control and rapid response to emerging security threats in their respective areas of responsibility.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, the Army said the appointments marked the commencement of operations for the new divisions as part of a broad reorganisation designed to expand its operational footprint nationwide.
Under the new deployment, Major General Yakubu Yahaya has been posted from the Headquarters Joint Task Force (North Central), Operation SAVANNA SHIELD, to head the 9 Division in Ilorin as General Officer Commanding and Commander of Operation SAVANNA SHIELD.
Major General Chinedu Ralph Nnebeife has been redeployed from Headquarters 2 Division/Sector 3, Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, to serve as General Officer Commanding of the newly established 10 Division in Jalingo.
Similarly, Major General Moses Gara moves from Headquarters Joint Task Force, Operation WHIRL STROKE, to assume office as General Officer Commanding, 5 Division, Makurdi, while also serving as Commander of Operation WHIRL STROKE.
The Army also redeployed Major General Auwalu Mahmuda from the Army Headquarters Directorate of Inspection and Compliance to Headquarters 2 Division, Ibadan, as General Officer Commanding.
To reinforce the expanded command structure, three new brigades have also been activated.
Brigadier General A.O. Odubiyi, formerly of the Army Headquarters Operations Centre, has been appointed Commander of the 11 Brigade, Gboko. Brigadier General A.M. Haruna has been posted from the Nigerian Army Armour School to command the 29 Brigade, Kainji, while Brigadier General R.M. Aminu has been redeployed from the National Defence College to head the 10 Brigade, Lafia.
According to the statement, the newly created divisions will begin operations immediately upon attaining Initial Operational Capability (IOC), with measures already in place to ensure their gradual transition to Full Operational Capability (FOC).
Anele said the phased operationalisation would guarantee seamless transition, operational continuity and improved force projection across the federation.
As part of the restructuring, the Army also reviewed the Areas of Responsibility of its divisions.
Under the new arrangement, 1 Division, Kaduna, will oversee Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states, while 2 Division, Ibadan, will cover Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states. The 3 Division, Jos, will be responsible for Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states.
The newly established 5 Division, Makurdi, will oversee Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states, while 6 Division, Port Harcourt, will retain responsibility for Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states. The 7 Division, Maiduguri, will continue to cover Borno and Yobe states, and 8 Division, Sokoto, will remain responsible for Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
The new 9 Division, Ilorin, will oversee Kwara and Niger states, while the 10 Division, Jalingo, will cover the border areas of Taraba and Adamawa states.
The 81 Division, Lagos, will continue to supervise Lagos and Ogun states, while the 82 Division, Enugu, will retain responsibility for Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo states. The 83 Division, Benin City, will oversee Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states when it becomes fully operational later this year.
Anele said the Chief
