The Nigerian Army has approved appointments of senior commanders to lead newly established divisions as part of a major reorganisation aimed at strengthening force posture and expanding the Service’s operational footprint.
Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu authorised the postings following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval for the creation of four additional divisions. The expansion is intended to enhance command-and-control, improve deployment speed, bolster border security and increase the Army’s capacity to respond to evolving security threats nationwide.
The new divisions will begin operations on attaining Initial Operational Capability (IOC) and will move to Full Operational Capability (FOC) through a phased implementation designed to ensure continuity and rapid force projection.
Under the revised divisional Areas of Responsibility, 1 Division (Kaduna) will cover Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa; 2 Division (Ibadan) will be responsible for Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo; and 3 Division (Jos) will oversee Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe. The newly formed 5 Division, headquartered in Makurdi, will assume responsibility for Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi, while 6 Division (Port Harcourt) will cover Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River. 7 Division (Maiduguri) will remain responsible for Borno and Yobe; 8 Division (Sokoto) will retain Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara.
Also newly established, 9 Division (Ilorin) will cover Kwara and Niger, and 10 Division (Jalingo) will be responsible for border areas of Taraba and Adamawa. 81 Division (Lagos) continues to oversee Lagos and Ogun, while 82 Division (Enugu) retains Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo. An 83 Division, with headquarters in Benin City to cover Edo, Delta and Bayelsa, is scheduled for activation later in the year.
Lieutenant General Shaibu approved the redeployment of experienced officers as General Officers Commanding (GOCs). Major General Yakubu Yahaya has been posted from Headquarters Joint Task Force (North Central), Operation Savanna Shield, to head 9 Division, Ilorin and to command Operation Savanna Shield. Major General Chinedu Ralph Nnebeife moves from Headquarters 2 Division/Sector 3 Joint Task Force (North West), Operation Fansan Yamma, to lead 10 Division, Jalingo. Major General Moses Gara has been redeployed from Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke to command 5 Division, Makurdi and to assume dual duties as Commander, Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke. Major General Auwalu Mahmuda has been posted from the Army Headquarters Directorate of Inspection and Compliance to 2 Division, Ibadan.
To strengthen the new formations, three brigades have been activated and staffed. Brigadier General AO Odubiyi, from the Army Headquarters Operations Centre, has been appointed Commander, 11 Brigade, Gboko; Brigadier General AM Haruna, from the Nigerian Army Armour School, will command 29 Brigade, Kainji; and Brigadier General RM Aminu, redeployed from the National Defence College, will lead 10 Brigade, Lafia.
The COAS congratulated the appointees and urged them to provide visionary leadership, sustain operational momentum and uphold professionalism and discipline. He reiterated the Army’s commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty and protecting citizens’ lives and property, and expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his support and investment in expanding the Army’s capabilities.
Statement issued by: Appolonia Anele, Colonel, Acting Director Army Public Relations, 29 July 2026.
