Nigerian Army Deploys GOCs To New Divisions, Activates 3 Brigades To Strengthen Operations

The Nigerian Army has deployed General Officers Commanding, GOCs, to its newly established divisions and activated three new brigades as part of efforts to strengthen operational capabilities and enhance national security.

The appointments followed President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions. The expansion is aimed at improving command and control, force projection, and response to evolving security challenges.

According to a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, on Wednesday, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, approved the appointments and postings to provide leadership for the new formations.

Col. Anele said the new divisions will commence operations after attaining Initial Operational Capability, IOC, and that measures are being implemented to ensure they achieve Full Operational Capability, FOC.

The Army has also reorganised divisional Areas of Responsibility nationwide.

The new structure is as follows:

– 1 Division Kaduna: Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states
– 2 Division Ibadan: Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states
– 3 Division Jos: Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states
– 5 Division Makurdi (new): Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states
– 6 Division Port Harcourt: Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states
– 7 Division Maiduguri: Borno and Yobe states
– 8 Division Sokoto: Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states
– 9 Division Ilorin (new): Kwara and Niger states
– 10 Division Jalingo (new): Taraba and Adamawa states
– 81 Division Lagos: Lagos and Ogun states
– 82 Division Enugu: Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo states
– 83 Division Benin City (new): Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states to be activated later in the year_

New Commanders Appointed
The Army announced the following postings:

– Major-General Yakubu Yahaya to Headquarters 9 Division, Ilorin, as General Officer Commanding and Commander, Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD

– Major General Chinedu Nnebeife to Headquarters 10 Division, Jalingo, as General Officer Commanding

– Major-General Moses Gara to Headquarters 5 Division, Makurdi, as General Officer Commanding and Commander, Operation WHIRL STROKE

– Major-General Auwalu Mahmuda as General Officer Commanding, 2 Division, Ibadan

Activation of New Brigades

To further strengthen the newly established divisions, the Army activated three new brigades:

– Brig.-Gen. A.O. Odubiyi as Commander, 11 Brigade, Gboko

– Brig.-Gen. A.M. Haruna as Commander, 29 Brigade, Kainji

– Brig.-Gen. R.M. Aminu as Commander, 10 Brigade, Lafia

Lt.-Gen. Shaibu congratulated the newly appointed commanders and urged them to provide visionary leadership, sustain operational momentum, and uphold professionalism and discipline.

He reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty, protecting lives and property, and supporting efforts toward enduring peace and national security.

The COAS also appreciated President Tinubu for supporting the expansion of the Army’s operational capabilities, describing the establishment of additional divisions as a historic milestone in the transformation of the Nigerian Army and the country’s defence architecture.

He expressed confidence that the expanded force structure would strengthen joint operations, improve operational coordination, and enhance the Army’s response to emerging security threats nationwide.