The Nigerian Army has announced a comprehensive reorganisation of its Divisional Areas of Responsibility following the establishment of four additional divisions approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with existing and newly created formations assigned fresh operational responsibilities across the country.
Under the new structure, 1 Division Kaduna will be responsible for security in Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states, while 2 Division Ibadan will oversee Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states. The 3 Division Jos will cover Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, approved the appointments of General Officers Commanding (GOCs) for the newly established divisions after President Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, authorised the creation of four additional divisions as part of efforts to strengthen the Nigerian Army’s force structure.
The expansion is aimed at increasing the Army’s operational footprint, enhancing command and control, and improving its capacity to respond effectively to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
According to the Army, the newly established divisions will commence operations in their designated locations upon attaining Initial Operational Capability (IOC), while deliberate measures are being implemented to achieve Full Operational Capability (FOC). The phased operationalisation is expected to ensure continuity of operations and rapid force projection nationwide.
As part of the reorganisation, the newly established 5 Division, headquartered in Makurdi, will be responsible for Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states, while 6 Division Port Harcourt will cover Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states. The 7 Division Maiduguri will continue to oversee Borno and Yobe states, while 8 Division Sokoto will retain responsibility for Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
The newly created 9 Division, headquartered in Ilorin, will oversee Kwara and Niger states, while the 10 Division, based in Jalingo, will be responsible for security in the border areas of Taraba and Adamawa states. The 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 provide leadership for the new formations, the COAS approved the appointment of experienced senior officers as General Officers Commanding.
Major General Yakubu Yahaya was redeployed from 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 moved 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 assumes the dual role of General Officer Commanding and Commander of Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE.
Major General Auwalu Mahmuda was also redeployed from the Army Headquarters Directorate of Inspection and Compliance to Headquarters 2 Division, Ibadan, as General Officer Commanding.
To reinforce the expanded force structure, the Army activated three additional brigades. Brigadier General A.O. Odubiyi, formerly of the Army Headquarters Operations Centre, will command the newly established 11 Brigade, Gboko. Brigadier General A.M. Haruna was posted from the Nigerian Army Armour School to command the new 29 Brigade, Kainji, while Brigadier General R.M. Aminu was redeployed from the National Defence College to command the newly established 10 Brigade, 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 efforts to achieve lasting peace and national security.
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 ongoing transformation of the Nigerian Army.
He added that the new divisions would strengthen command and control, improve operational coordination, enhance border security, facilitate faster deployment of troops and resources, and significantly boost the Army’s ability to respond to emerging security threats while supporting joint and multi-agency operations across the country.
