Army appoints GOCs for new Divisions as operations begin

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has designated General Officers Commanding (GOCs) for the newly formed Army divisions.

These appointments were made following the approval of the new formations by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, aimed at enhancing the operational capacity of the Nigerian Army throughout the nation.

President Tinubu sanctioned the expansion of the Nigerian Army's structure from eight to twelve divisions, in addition to the recruitment of 28,000 new personnel.

The newly established divisions include: 5 Division Headquarters in Makurdi, responsible for overseeing Benue, Nasarawa, and Kogi states; 9 Division Headquarters in Ilorin, tasked with overseeing Kwara and Niger states; 10 Division Headquarters in Jalingo, which will manage Taraba and Adamawa states; and 83 Division Headquarters in Benin City, responsible for Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa states.

The announcement of these appointments was made on Wednesday by the Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele.

These appointments signify the initiation of operations by the new divisions as part of a significant reorganization intended to broaden the Army's operational reach, enhance command and control, and improve its capacity to address emerging security challenges across the country.

In this new deployment, Major General Yakubu Yahaya has been reassigned from Headquarters Joint Task Force (North Central), Operation SAVANNA SHIELD (OPSS), to Headquarters 9 Division in Ilorin, where he will take on the role of General Officer Commanding and Commander of Operation SAVANNA SHIELD.

Major General Chinedu Ralph Nnebeife has been moved from Headquarters 2 Division/Sector 3, Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, to Headquarters 10 Division in Jalingo, where he will serve as the General Officer Commanding.

In a similar vein, Major General Moses Gara has been transferred from Headquarters Joint Task Force, Operation WHIRL STROKE (OPWS), to Headquarters 5 Division in Makurdi, where he will hold the dual role of General Officer Commanding and Commander of Operation WHIRL STROKE.

Brigadier General A.O. Odubiyi, who previously served at the Army Headquarters Operations Centre, has been appointed as the Commander of the 11 Brigade in Gboko. Brigadier General A.M. Haruna has been reassigned from the Nigerian Army Armour School to take command of the 29 Brigade in Kainji, while Brigadier General R.M. Aminu has been moved from the National Defence College to lead the 10 Brigade in Lafia.

Anele stated that the newly formed divisions would begin operations as soon as they achieve Initial Operational Capability (IOC), with plans already in place to progressively reach Full Operational Capability (FOC).

She elaborated that the phased implementation would facilitate a smooth transition, ensure operational continuity, and enable rapid force deployment throughout the nation.

The Army spokesperson also revealed a thorough reorganization of the Army’s divisional Areas of Responsibility to better align with the expanded force structure.

As per the announcement, the newly created 9 Division, which will be headquartered in Ilorin, is tasked with overseeing Kwara and Niger states, while the new 10 Division, located in Jalingo, will manage the border regions of Taraba and Adamawa states.

The 81 Division, located in Lagos, will maintain its oversight of Lagos and Ogun states, whereas the 82 Division in Enugu will continue to be responsible for Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi, and Imo states. The newly formed 83 Division, based in Benin City, is set to cover Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa states once it becomes operational later this year.

Anele reported that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) congratulated the newly appointed commanders and urged them to deliver visionary leadership, maintain operational momentum, and uphold the highest standards of professionalism, discipline, and mission effectiveness.

Furthermore, she noted that Lt.-Gen. Shaibu reiterated the Nigerian Army’s dedication to protecting the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, safeguarding the lives and property of law-abiding citizens, and fostering the achievement of enduring peace and security throughout the country.