Following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval to create four additional army divisions, Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu has appointed new General Officers Commanding (GOCs) to lead these formations. Colonel Appolonia Anele, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, stated that this expansion is designed to bolster the Nigerian Army’s operational reach, command structure, and responsiveness to national security threats.
The newly formed divisions will begin operations as they reach Initial Operational Capability, with a long-term goal of achieving Full Operational Capability. This growth includes a reorganization of the military’s territorial responsibilities. For instance, the new 5 Division in Makurdi will cover Benue, Nasarawa, and Kogi, while the 9 Division in Ilorin takes charge of Kwara and Niger. Additionally, the 10 Division in Jalingo will secure border areas in Taraba and Adamawa, and the 83 Division in Benin City will oversee Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa.
Key leadership appointments include Major General Yakubu Yahaya at the 9 Division, Major General Chinedu Ralph Nnebeife at the 10 Division, Major General Moses Gara at the 5 Division, and Major General Auwalu Mahmuda at the 2 Division. Furthermore, three new brigades—the 11 Brigade in Gboko, 29 Brigade in Kainji, and 10 Brigade in Lafia—were activated, with Brigadier Generals AO Odubiyi, AM Haruna, and RM Aminu appointed as their respective commanders.
Lieutenant General Shaibu urged the new commanders to maintain high professional standards and visionary leadership. He expressed his gratitude to President Tinubu for his investment in the military, noting that this reorganization is a historic step in improving national defense, troop deployment, and border security across Nigeria.
