Army Chief Appoints GOCs For Newly Established Divisions, Reorganises Commands

Army Appoints GOCs For Newly Established Divisions, Reorganises Operational Areas
The Army also reorganised operational areas and activated three additional brigades.
New formations are expected to strengthen security operations and rapid troop deployment.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved the appointment of General Officers Commanding (GOCs) for newly established Nigerian Army divisions.

The appointments followed President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the establishment of four additional divisions as part of efforts to strengthen the Nigerian Army’s operational capacity and improve its response to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that in a statement issued on Wednesday, the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, said the development would expand the Army’s operational footprint, strengthen command and control and enhance the service’s capacity to address emerging security threats.

“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 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,” the statement read.

Under the new structure, 1 Division Kaduna will oversee security operations in Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states, while 2 Division Ibadan will be responsible for Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states.

The 3 Division Jos will cover Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states.

The newly established 5 Division, headquartered in Makurdi, will oversee Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states, while 6 Division Port Harcourt will be responsible for Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.

The 7 Division Maiduguri will cover Borno and Yobe states, while 8 Division Sokoto will retain responsibility for Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.

The newly established 9 Division, headquartered in Ilorin, will oversee Kwara and Niger states, while the newly established 10 Division, headquartered in Jalingo, will be responsible for border areas covering 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, headquartered in Benin City, will cover Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states when activated later in the year.

Anele said the COAS had approved the appointment of experienced senior officers to provide leadership for the new formations.

Major General Yakubu Yahaya was redeployed from Headquarters Joint Task Force (North Central), Operation SAVANNA SHIELD (OPSS), to Headquarters 9 Division, Ilorin, where he will serve as General Officer Commanding and Commander, Operation SAVANNA SHIELD.

Army Chief Appoints GOCs For Newly Established Divisions, Reorganises Commands

Major General Chinedu Ralph Nnebeife was redeployed from Headquarters 2 Division/Sector 3 Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, to Headquarters 10 Division, Jalingo, as General Officer Commanding.

Major General Moses Gara was redeployed from Headquarters Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE (OPWS) to Headquarters 5 Division, Makurdi, where he will serve as General Officer Commanding and Commander, Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE.

Similarly, Major General Auwalu Mahmuda was redeployed from the Army Headquarters Directorate of Inspection and Compliance to Headquarters 2 Division, Ibadan, as General Officer Commanding.

The statement added that three new brigades had also been activated to strengthen the newly established divisions.

Brigadier General AO Odubiyi, redeployed from the Army Headquarters Operations Center, will command Headquarters 11 Brigade, Gboko.

Brigadier General AM Haruna, posted from the Nigerian Army Armour School, will command Headquarters 29 Brigade, Kainji.

Brigadier General RM Aminu, redeployed from the National Defence College, will command Headquarters 10 Brigade, Lafia.

The Army said the COAS congratulated the newly appointed commanders and charged them to provide visionary leadership while sustaining operational momentum and maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, discipline and mission effectiveness.

“The Chief of Army Staff congratulated the newly appointed commanders and charged them to provide visionary leadership, sustain operational momentum and uphold the highest standards of professionalism, discipline and mission effectiveness in the discharge of their responsibilities. He reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nigeria, protecting the lives and property of all law-abiding citizens and supporting the attainment of enduring national peace and security.

“Lieutenant General Shaibu also expressed profound appreciation to the President, Commander-in-Chief Armed Forces of Nigeria , His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his steadfast support and strategic investment in expanding the Nigerian Army’s operational capabilities. He noted that the establishment of the additional Divisions represents a historic milestone in the transformation of the Nigerian Army and reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening national defence architecture.

“The COAS emphasized that the new Divisions will significantly enhance command and control, improve operational coordination, strengthen border security, facilitate faster deployment of troops and resources and increase the Nigerian Army’s capacity to respond decisively to emerging and evolving security threats across the country. He expressed confidence that the expanded force structure will further bolster joint and multi-agency operations, reinforce national stability and contribute substantially to the restoration of lasting peace and security nationwide,” the statement concluded.