The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Waidi Shaibu, has approved the appointment of General Officers Commanding (GOCs) for the newly established Nigerian Army divisions following President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the creation of four additional divisions.
The appointments form part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the Nigerian Army’s operational capacity, expand its presence across the country and enhance its response to emerging security challenges.
According to a statement by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, the new divisions will begin operations upon attaining Initial Operational Capability (IOC), with plans to achieve Full Operational Capability (FOC) in phases.
Under the new structure, 1 Division Kaduna will oversee Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states, while 2 Division Ibadan will cover Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states. 3 Division Jos will be responsible for Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states.
The newly created 5 Division Makurdi will oversee Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states, while 9 Division Ilorin will cover Kwara and Niger states. 10 Division Jalingo will be responsible for Taraba and Adamawa states.
The Army also announced that Major General Yakubu Yahaya has been appointed General Officer Commanding 9 Division Ilorin and Commander of Operation Savannah Shield, while Major General Chinedu Ralph Nnebeife will serve as the General Officer Commanding 10 Division Jalingo.
The Nigerian Army said the reorganisation is aimed at improving command and control, strengthening national security and ensuring rapid deployment of troops across the country.
