- Safiu Kehinde
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has approved the appointment of General Officers Commanding (GOCs) to the newly established Nigerian Army Divisions.
This is coming days after President Bola Tinubu announced the establishment of four additional Divisions bringing the total army division to 12.
In a bid to provide effective leadership for the new formations, Shaibu, according to a statement issued on the Nigerian Army’s official X handle on Wednesday, approved the appointment of seasoned senior officers as General Officers Commanding.
Those appointed includes; Major General Yakubu Yahaya redeployed from Headquarters Joint Task Force (North Central), Operation SAVANNA SHIELD (OPSS), to Headquarters 9 Division, Ilorin, as the General Officer Commanding and Commander, Operation SAVANNA SHIELD.
In the same vein, Maj. Gen. Chinedu Ralph Nnebeife has been redeployed from Headquarters 2 Division/Sector 3 Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, to Headquarters 10 Division, Jalingo, as the General Officer Commanding.
Similarly, Maj. Gen. Moses Gara was redeployed from Headquarters Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE (OPWS) to Headquarters 5 Division, Makurdi, where he assumes the dual appointment of General Officer Commanding and Commander, Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE.
The army described the landmark development as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen its structure, expand operational footprint, enhance command and control as well as improve the Service’s capacity to effectively respond to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
The newly established Divisions will immediately commence operations, in the respective locations, on attainment of Initial Operational Capability (IOC) while deliberate measures are being implemented to progressively attain Full Operational Capability (FOC).
This phased approach, according to the statement will ensure seamless operationalisation, operational continuity and rapid force projection across the country.
Consequently, the Nigerian Army has undertaken a comprehensive reorganisation of its Divisional Areas of Responsibility.
Under the new structure, 1 Division Kaduna will be responsible for security in Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States, while 2 Division Ibadan will cover Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States.
The 3 Division Jos will oversee Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States.
The newly established 5 Division, with Headquarters in Makurdi, will assume responsibility for Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States, while 6 Division Port Harcourt will cover Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.
On the other hand, 7 Division Maiduguri will be responsible for Borno and Yobe states while 8 Division Sokoto will retain responsibility for Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States.
Furthermore, the newly established 9 Division, headquartered in Ilorin, will cover Kwara and Niger States, while the newly established 10 Division, headquartered in Jalingo, will be responsible for security in the boader areas of Taraba and Adamawa States.
The 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 established 83 Division, with Headquarters in Benin City, will cover Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States when activated later in the year.