Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu has approved the deployment of General Officers Commanding to lead newly established divisions across the country.
This massive restructuring comes after President Bola Tinubu authorized four additional Nigerian Army divisions to sharpen operational response times and optimize command efficiency.
The Nigerian Army announced on its official X account that the fresh units will immediately commence duties upon achieving Initial Operational Capability before scaling up to Full Operational Capability.
“The landmark development 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,” the post read.
Military leadership clarified that a phased rollout strategy was selected to ensure seamless operational continuity and rapid force deployment nationwide.
Under the updated blueprint, the 1 Division Kaduna retains jurisdiction over Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa States, while the 2 Division Ibadan continues to handle Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo States.
The 3 Division Jos remains responsible for Plateau, Bauchi, and Gombe States, while the newly created 5 Division Makurdi steps in to oversee Benue, Nasarawa, and Kogi States.
Down south, the 6 Division Port Harcourt manages Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River States, while the 7 Division Maiduguri holds charge over Borno and Yobe States.
Farther north, the 8 Division Sokoto remains focused on Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara States.
The newly formed 9 Division in Ilorin will handle Kwara and Niger States, whereas the 10 Division Jalingo has been assigned to secure critical border sectors in Taraba and Adamawa States.
Furthermore, the 81 Division Lagos continues to cover Lagos and Ogun States, while the 82 Division Enugu keeps custody of Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi, and Imo States.
Once fully activated later this year, the newly minted 83 Division in Benin City is slated to take charge of Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa States.
To steer these critical regions, Lieutenant General Shaibu tapped seasoned, battle-tested senior officers from various operational theaters.
Major General Yakubu Yahaya steps in as the GOC for 9 Division Ilorin and Commander of Operation SAVANNA SHIELD following his redeployment from Headquarters Joint Task Force (North Central).
Major General Chinedu Ralph Nnebeife transitions from his role at Headquarters 2 Division/Sector 3 Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, to take command of 10 Division Jalingo, while Major General Moses Gara leaves the task force headquarters to head 5 Division Makurdi and Operation WHIRL STROKE.
“The newly established Divisions will 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),” the Army stated.
