The Nigerian Army has appointed four new General Officers Commanding, GOCs, following the approval of four additional divisions by President Bola Tinubu as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s security architecture.
The appointments were approved by the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele.
The newly established divisions are 5 Division, Makurdi; 9 Division, Ilorin; 10 Division, Jalingo; and 83 Division, Benin City, although the 83 Division will become operational later in the year.
Those appointed include Major General Yakubu Yahaya as GOC 9 Division, Ilorin, and Commander of Operation SAVANNA SHIELD; Major General Chinedu Ralph Nnebeife, GOC 10 Division, Jalingo; Major General Moses Gara, GOC 5 Division, Makurdi and Commander of Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE, and Major General Auwalu Mahmuda, GOC, 2 Division, Ibadan.
The Army said the establishment of the new divisions is aimed at strengthening its force structure, expanding its operational footprint, enhancing command and control, and improving its capacity to respond to evolving security challenges across the country.
Under the new operational structure, 1 Division Kaduna will oversee Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states, while 2 Division Ibadan will cover Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states. The 3 Division Jos will be responsible for Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states.
The 5 Division Makurdi will oversee Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states, while 6 Division Port Harcourt will cover Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states. The 7 Division Maiduguri will retain responsibility for Borno and Yobe states, while 8 Division Sokoto will cover Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
Similarly, 9 Division Ilorin will be responsible for Kwara and Niger states, while 10 Division Jalingo will oversee the border areas of Taraba and Adamawa states. The 81 Division Lagos will continue to cover Lagos and Ogun states, while 82 Division Enugu will retain responsibility for Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo states. The 83 Division Benin City will cover Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states when it is activated later in the year.
The Army also announced the activation of three new brigades.
Brigadier General A.O. Odubiyi was appointed Commander of the newly established 11 Brigade, Gboko; Brigadier General A.M. Haruna will head 29 Brigade, Kainji; while Brigadier General R.M. Aminu was appointed Commander of 10 Brigade, Lafia.