The Nigerian Army has significantly expanded its operational structure with the establishment of four additional divisions and the appointment of senior commanders to lead the new formations, in a move aimed at strengthening the country’s response to growing security threats.
The development followed the approval of President Bola Tinubu for the creation of the new divisions, while Waidi Shaibu, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), approved the appointment of General Officers Commanding (GOCs) to oversee the formations.
The expansion forms part of the Army’s ongoing reforms designed to strengthen its force structure, widen its operational footprint, improve command and control, and enhance its capacity to tackle Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
According to the Army, the newly established divisions will commence operations immediately upon attaining Initial Operational Capability (IOC), while efforts are underway to ensure they gradually achieve Full Operational Capability (FOC).
The phased activation, it noted, is intended to guarantee seamless operationalisation, continuity of operations and faster force projection across the country.
The Nigerian Army also announced a comprehensive reorganisation of divisional areas of responsibility across the federation.
Under the new arrangement, the 1 Division Headquarters in Kaduna will oversee security operations in Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states, while the 2 Division, headquartered in Ibadan, will be responsible for Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states.
The 3 Division, Jos, will continue to cover Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states.
The newly established 5 Division, with headquarters in Makurdi, will assume responsibility for Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states.
The division will also coordinate Operation Whirl Stroke, one of the military’s key operations against armed groups and violent criminal elements in the North Central region.
Similarly, the 6 Division, Port Harcourt, will oversee Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, while the 7 Division, Maiduguri, will retain responsibility for Borno and Yobe states, the epicentre of Nigeria’s counter-insurgency operations.
The 8 Division, Sokoto, will continue to oversee Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
Under the new structure, the newly established 9 Division, headquartered in Ilorin, will be responsible for Kwara and Niger states, while the newly created 10 Division, with headquarters in Jalingo, will oversee security operations in the border areas of Taraba and Adamawa states.
The 81 Division, Lagos, will continue to cover Lagos and Ogun states, while the 82 Division, Enugu, will remain responsible for Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo states.
The Army also disclosed that the newly established 83 Division, with headquarters in Benin City, will oversee Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states when it becomes operational later this year.
To provide leadership for the new formations, the COAS approved the redeployment of several senior officers.
Yakubu Yahaya was redeployed from the Headquarters of Joint Task Force (North Central), Operation Savannah Shield, to the newly created 9 Division in Ilorin as the General Officer Commanding and Commander of Operation Savannah Shield.
Chinedu Nnebeife was moved from Headquarters 2 Division/Sector 3 Joint Task Force (North West), Operation Fansan Yamma, to assume office as the General Officer Commanding of the newly established 10 Division in Jalingo.
Moses Gara was redeployed from the Headquarters of Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke to head the new 5 Division in Makurdi, where he will serve in the dual capacity of General Officer Commanding and Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke.
Also appointed is Auwalu Mahmuda, who was redeployed from the Army Headquarters Directorate of Inspection and Compliance to serve as General Officer Commanding, 2 Division, Ibadan.
In addition to the new divisions, the Army announced the activation of three new brigades to reinforce the expanded force structure and improve operational effectiveness across the country.