The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved the appointment of General Officers Commanding (GOCs) to the newly established Nigerian Army Divisions.
This follows the approval by President Bola Tinubu for the establishment of four additional Divisions, as part of efforts to strengthen the Nigerian Army’s force structure and tackle security challenges in the country.
The army, in a statement issued on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, said the newly established Divisions will immediately commence operations in the respective locations on attainment of Initial Operational Capability (IOC) while measures are being implemented to progressively attain Full Operational Capability (FOC).
The army stated that this phased approach will ensure seamless operationalisation, operational continuity, and rapid force projection across the country.
It stated: “Those appointed include 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.
“Major General 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, Major General Moses Gara has been 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 Nigerian Army also announced a comprehensive reorganisation of its Divisional Areas of Responsibility, saying 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.
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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.
The 7 Division Maiduguri will be responsible for Borno and Yobe States, while 8 Division Sokoto will retain responsibility for Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara States.
The army added that 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 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 army noted that the newly established 83 Division, with headquarters in Benin City, will cover Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa States when activated later in the year.
