THE Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved the appointment of General Officers Commanding (GOCs) to the newly established Nigerian Army divisions following President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the creation of four additional divisions.
News Point Nigeria reports that the appointments are part of the implementation of the Federal Government’s plan to expand the Nigerian Army’s force structure from eight to 12 divisions in response to the country’s evolving security challenges.
In a statement posted on the Nigerian Army’s official X handle on Wednesday, the Army described the development as a landmark step aimed at strengthening its force structure, expanding its operational footprint, enhancing command and control, and improving its capacity to respond effectively to security threats across the country.
The Army stated that the newly established divisions would immediately commence operations in their respective locations upon attaining Initial Operational Capability (IOC), while deliberate measures were being implemented to progressively achieve Full Operational Capability (FOC).
According to the statement, the phased implementation would ensure seamless operationalisation, operational continuity and rapid force projection across the country.
As part of the restructuring, the Nigerian Army has undertaken a comprehensive reorganisation of its Divisional Areas of Responsibility.
Under the new operational structure, 1 Division Headquarters, Kaduna, will be responsible for security in Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states, while 2 Division Headquarters, Ibadan, will oversee Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states.
3 Division Headquarters, Jos, will cover Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states, while the newly established 5 Division Headquarters, Makurdi, will assume responsibility for Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states.
Similarly, 6 Division Headquarters, Port Harcourt, will oversee Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, while 7 Division Headquarters, Maiduguri, will remain responsible for Borno and Yobe states.
The Army also announced that 8 Division Headquarters, Sokoto, will continue to oversee Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
The newly created 9 Division Headquarters, Ilorin, will be responsible for Kwara and Niger states, while the newly established 10 Division Headquarters, Jalingo, will oversee security operations in Taraba and Adamawa states.
In addition, 81 Division Headquarters, Lagos, will continue to cover Lagos and Ogun states, while 82 Division Headquarters, Enugu, will retain responsibility for Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo states.
The Army added that the newly established 83 Division Headquarters, 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 appointment of experienced senior officers as General Officers Commanding.
Among those appointed is Major General Yakubu Yahaya, who has been redeployed from the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force (North Central), Operation SAVANNA SHIELD (OPSS), to Headquarters 9 Division, Ilorin, where he will serve as General Officer Commanding and Commander of Operation SAVANNA SHIELD.
Also appointed is Major General Chinedu Nnebeife, who has been redeployed from Headquarters 2 Division/Sector 3 Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, to Headquarters 10 Division, Jalingo, as General Officer Commanding.
Similarly, Major General Moses Gara has been redeployed from the Headquarters of Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE (OPWS) to Headquarters 5 Division, Makurdi, where he assumes the dual role of General Officer Commanding and Commander of Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE.
News Point Nigeria recalls that President Bola Tinubu, on July 23, 2026, approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions as part of his administration’s sustained investment in the Armed Forces.
The President also approved the recruitment of 28,000 additional military personnel, the acquisition of critical military platforms and equipment, improvements in troop welfare, as well as continued support for operational readiness and force modernisation.
The Presidency said the approval underscores President Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to equipping the Armed Forces to tackle Nigeria’s evolving security challenges effectively while strengthening the country’s national defence capabilities.
Under the expanded structure, the 12 divisions are: 1 Division Headquarters – Kaduna (Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States); 2 Division Headquarters – Ibadan (Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States); 3 Division Headquarters – Jos (Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States); 5 Division Headquarters – Makurdi (Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States); 6 Division Headquarters – Port Harcourt (Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States); 7 Division Headquarters – Maiduguri (Borno and Yobe States); 8 Division Headquarters – Sokoto (Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States); 9 Division Headquarters – Ilorin (Kwara and Niger States); 10 Division Headquarters – Jalingo (Taraba and Adamawa States); 81 Division Headquarters – Lagos (Lagos and Ogun States); 82 Division Headquarters – Enugu (Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States); and 83 Division Headquarters – Benin City (Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States).
The Presidency further explained that the implementation of the new force structure would be carried out in two phases.
According to the Presidency, the first phase covers 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 involves the activation of the 83 Division and further reorganisation of the Army’s operational structure, with completion scheduled for December 2026.