Army Names Commanders for Four New Divisions

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved the appointment of General Officers Commanding (GOCs) for the Nigerian Army’s newly created divisions as part of an expansion aimed at strengthening security operations nationwide.

The appointments follow President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the establishment of four additional Army divisions to improve operational capacity, command structure and response to evolving security threats.

In a statement shared on the Nigerian Army’s official X account on Wednesday, the military said the new formations would commence operations after attaining Initial Operational Capability (IOC) before progressing to Full Operational Capability (FOC).

According to the Army, the expansion is intended to strengthen its force structure, widen its operational reach, improve command and control, and enhance its ability to tackle security challenges across the country.

The military said the phased activation of the new divisions would ensure seamless deployment, operational continuity and rapid response to emerging threats.

New divisional structure

Under the new arrangement:

1 Division Kaduna will oversee Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states.
2 Division Ibadan will cover Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states.
3 Division Jos will be responsible for Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states.
5 Division Makurdi will oversee Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states.
6 Division Port Harcourt will cover Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.
7 Division Maiduguri will retain responsibility for Borno and Yobe states.
8 Division Sokoto will continue to oversee Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
9 Division Ilorin will cover Kwara and Niger states.
10 Division Jalingo will oversee border areas of Taraba and Adamawa states.
81 Division Lagos will remain responsible for Lagos and Ogun states.
82 Division Enugu will continue to cover Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo states.
83 Division Benin City will oversee Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states once activated later this year.

To lead the new formations, the Army approved the appointment of senior officers with extensive operational experience.

Major General Yakubu Yahaya has been appointed General Officer Commanding 9 Division Ilorin and Commander of Operation SAVANNA SHIELD following his redeployment from the Headquarters Joint Task Force (North Central).

Major General Chinedu Ralph Nnebeife will serve as GOC 10 Division Jalingo after his redeployment from Headquarters 2 Division/Sector 3 Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA.

Major General Moses Gara has been appointed GOC 5 Division Makurdi and Commander of Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE following his redeployment from the task force headquarters.

The Army said the appointments and restructuring are expected to improve operational efficiency and ensure faster responses to security threats across the country.

It added that the expansion forms part of its broader strategy to build a more agile and responsive force capable of addressing Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.