The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved the appointment of General Officers Commanding (GOCs) for Nigeria’s newly established Army divisions following President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the expansion of the service’s command structure.
The Nigerian Army said the creation of four additional divisions is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen its force structure, expand its operational reach, improve command and control, and enhance its capacity to respond to evolving security threats across the country.
According to the Army, the newly established divisions will commence operations upon attaining Initial Operational Capability (IOC), while measures are being implemented to achieve Full Operational Capability (FOC) in phases.
The Army said the phased approach would ensure smooth integration, operational continuity and faster deployment of troops where needed.
In a statement posted on its official X handle on Wednesday, the Army announced a comprehensive reorganisation of its Divisional Areas of Responsibility.
Under the new structure, 1 Division Kaduna will oversee security operations in Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States, while 2 Division Ibadan will be responsible for Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States.
The 3 Division Jos will cover Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States, while the newly created 5 Division, headquartered in Makurdi, will oversee Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States.
The 6 Division Port Harcourt will be responsible for Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, while 7 Division Maiduguri will retain responsibility for Borno and Yobe States.
The 8 Division Sokoto will continue to cover Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States, while the newly established 9 Division Ilorin will oversee Kwara and Niger States.
The newly established 10 Division, with headquarters in Jalingo, will be responsible for Taraba and Adamawa States, particularly the country’s border areas.
Meanwhile, 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 created 83 Division, headquartered in Benin City, will cover Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States when it becomes operational later in the year.
New GOCs appointed
To provide leadership for the new formations, Lieutenant General Shaibu approved the appointment of senior officers as General Officers Commanding.
Major General Yakubu Yahaya, who was redeployed from Headquarters Joint Task Force (North Central), Operation SAVANNA SHIELD, has been appointed GOC of 9 Division Ilorin and Commander of Operation SAVANNA SHIELD.
Major General Chinedu Nnebeife was redeployed from Headquarters 2 Division/Sector 3 Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, to head 10 Division Jalingo as GOC.
Major General Moses Gara was redeployed from Headquarters Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE to command 5 Division Makurdi, where he will also serve as Commander of Operation WHIRL STROKE.
Army expansion plan
President Tinubu approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions on July 23, 2026, as part of measures aimed at strengthening the country’s defence capabilities.
The approval also includes the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, acquisition of military equipment, improved welfare for troops and continued investment in operational readiness.
The Presidency said the expansion reflects the administration’s commitment to equipping the Armed Forces to tackle Nigeria’s security challenges and enhance national defence.
The implementation of the new structure will be carried out in two phases.
The first phase involves the establishment of the 5, 9 and 10 Divisions, alongside the reorganisation of existing formations, and is expected to be completed by September 2026.
The second phase will include the establishment of the 83 Division and further restructuring, with completion expected by December 2026.
