By Attah Ede
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Wednesday, approved the appointment and assigning of General Officers Commanding (GOCs) to the newly established Nigerian Army Divisions in Benue, Taraba, Edo and Kwara States
This followed the approval by President Bola Tinubu for the establishment of four additional Divisions for the Army.
Those appointed are; Major General Yakubu Yahaya, redeployed from Headquarters Joint Task Force (North Central), Operation SAVANNA SHIELD (OPSS), to Headquarters 9 Division, Ilorin, as the General Officer Commanding and Commander, Operation SAVANNA SHIELD.
Major General Chinedu Nnebeife has been redeployed from Headquarters 2 Division/Sector 3 Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, to Headquarters 10 Division, Jalingo, as the General Officer Commanding.
Similarly, Major General Moses Gara has been redeployed from Headquarters Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE (OPWS) to Headquarters 5 Division, Makurdi, where he assumes the dual appointment of General Officer Commanding and Commander, Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE
The Army in a statement on its X handle on Wednesday, described this redeployment as “landmark development” which forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the Nigerian Army’s force structure, expand its operational footprint, enhance command and control as well as improve the Service’s capacity to effectively respond to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
It noted that the newly established divisions would 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 (FOC).
This phased approach, it said, would ensure seamless operationalisation, operational continuity and rapid force projection across the country.
The press release partly read, “consequently, the Nigerian Army has undertaken a comprehensive reorganisation of its Divisional Areas of Responsibility. Under the new structure, 1 Division Kaduna will be responsible for security in Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States, while 2 Division Ibadan will cover Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States.
“The 3 Division Jos will oversee Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States. The newly established 5 Division, with Headquarters in Makurdi, will assume responsibility 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 be responsible for Borno and Yobe states while 8 Division Sokoto will retain responsibility for Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States.”
Furthermore, the Army maintained that the newly established 9 Division, headquartered in Ilorin, will cover Kwara and Niger States, while the newly established 10 Division, headquartered in Jalingo, will be responsible for security in the border areas of Taraba and Adamawa States.
“The 81 Division Lagos will continue to oversee 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 cover Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States when activated later in the year,” it added.
To provide effective leadership for the new formations, the COAS, according to the state, has approved the appointment of seasoned senior officers as General Officers Commanding.
Under the new structure, the Nigerian Army will operate twelve divisions, strategically positioned across the country as follows:
1. 1 Division Headquarters – Kaduna (Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States.
2. 2 Division Headquarters – Ibadan (Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States
3. 3 Division Headquarters – Jos (Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States.
4. 5 Division Headquarters – Makurdi (Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States)
5. 6 Division Headquarters – Port Harcourt (Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States)
6. 7 Division Headquarters – Maiduguri (Borno and Yobe States)
7. 8 Division Headquarters – Sokoto (Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States)
8. 9 Division Headquarters – Ilorin (Kwara and Niger States)
9. 10 Division Headquarters – Jalingo (Taraba and Adamawa States)
10. 81 Division Headquarters – Lagos (Lagos and Ogun States)
11. 82 Division Headquarters – Enugu (Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States)
12. 83 Division Headquarters – Benin City (Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States).
