Army appoints GOCs for newly created divisions as Army expands operational footprint

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved the appointment of General Officers Commanding (GOCs) for the Nigerian Army’s newly established divisions following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent approval for the expansion of the Army’s force structure.

The appointments are part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the Army’s operational footprint, enhance command and control, and improve its capacity to respond to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.

Lieutenant General Shaibu charged the newly appointed commanders to provide visionary leadership, sustain operational momentum, and uphold the highest standards of professionalism, discipline, and mission effectiveness in the discharge of their duties.

Under the new postings, Major General Yakubu Yahaya has been redeployed from Headquarters Joint Task Force (North Central), Operation SAVANNA SHIELD (OPSS), to Headquarters 9 Division, Ilorin, as General Officer Commanding and Commander of Operation SAVANNA SHIELD. Major General Chinedu Ralph Nnebeife moves 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 has been redeployed from Headquarters Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE (OPWS) 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 has also been redeployed from the Army Headquarters Directorate of Inspection and Compliance to Headquarters 2 Division, Ibadan, as General Officer Commanding.

To reinforce the newly created divisions, the Army has activated three additional brigades. Brigadier General A.O. Odubiyi, formerly of the Army Headquarters Operations Centre, has been appointed Commander of the newly established 11 Brigade, Gboko. Brigadier General A.M. Haruna has been posted from the Nigerian Army Armour School to command the new 29 Brigade, Kainji, while Brigadier General R.M. Aminu moves from the National Defence College to head the newly established 10 Brigade, Lafia.

In a statement, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations said the new divisions would commence operations immediately upon attaining Initial Operational Capability (IOC), while measures are being implemented to achieve Full Operational Capability (FOC) in phases.

According to the statement, the phased implementation is intended to ensure seamless operationalisation, maintain operational continuity, and enhance rapid force projection across the country.

The Army also announced a comprehensive reorganisation of its divisional areas of responsibility.

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. The 3 Division Jos will be responsible for Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states.

The newly established 5 Division, headquartered in Makurdi, will oversee Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states, while 6 Division Port Harcourt will cover Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states. The 7 Division Maiduguri will retain responsibility for Borno and Yobe states, and 8 Division Sokoto will continue to oversee Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.

The new 9 Division, headquartered in Ilorin, will be responsible for Kwara and Niger states, while the newly established 10 Division, based in Jalingo, will oversee 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. A newly created 83 Division, headquartered in Benin City, will cover Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states when it becomes operational later this year.

Lieutenant General Shaibu congratulated the newly appointed commanders and 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 restoration of lasting peace and security.

He also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support and strategic investment in expanding the Army’s operational capabilities, describing the establishment of the new divisions as a historic milestone in the ongoing transformation of the Nigerian Army and a reflection of the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening the country’s defence architecture.

According to the COAS, the additional divisions will enhance command and control, improve operational coordination, strengthen border security, facilitate faster deployment of troops and resources, and significantly boost the Army’s ability to respond decisively to emerging security threats across the country. He added that the expanded force structure would further strengthen joint and multi-agency operations and contribute to national stability and enduring peace.