The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved the appointment of Major General Yakubu Yahaya, Major General Chinedu Ralph Nnebeife, and Major General Moses Gara as General Officers Commanding (GOCs) of three newly established Nigerian Army divisions following President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the creation of four additional divisions.
The appointments, announced by the Nigerian Army in a statement posted on its official X handle on Wednesday, are part of efforts to strengthen the Army’s operational capacity, improve command and control, and enhance its response to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
Under the new postings, Major General Yakubu Yahaya has been appointed GOC of 9 Division Ilorin and Commander of Operation SAVANNA SHIELD, following his redeployment from the Headquarters Joint Task Force (North Central).
Major General Chinedu Ralph Nnebeife will serve as GOC of 10 Division Jalingo after his redeployment from Headquarters 2 Division/Sector 3 Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA.
Similarly, Major General Moses Gara has been appointed GOC of 5 Division Makurdi and Commander of Operation WHIRL STROKE, following his redeployment from the task force headquarters.
According to the Army, the appointments followed President Tinubu’s approval for the establishment of four additional divisions to expand the Nigerian Army’s force structure and improve operational effectiveness nationwide.
“The landmark development forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the Nigerian Army’s force structure, expand its operational footprint, enhance command and control as well as improve the Service’s capacity to effectively respond to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges,” the statement read.
The Army said the newly established formations would begin operations upon attaining Initial Operational Capability (IOC), while deliberate measures were being implemented to achieve Full Operational Capability (FOC).
It explained that the phased activation of the divisions was designed to ensure seamless operationalisation, operational continuity and rapid force projection across the country.
Under the revised command structure, 1 Division Kaduna will oversee Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states, while 2 Division Ibadan will be responsible for Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states.
3 Division Jos will cover Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states, while the newly established 5 Division Makurdi will take responsibility for Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states.
6 Division Port Harcourt will continue to oversee Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, while 7 Division Maiduguri will remain responsible for Borno and Yobe states.
8 Division Sokoto will retain oversight of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
The newly created 9 Division Ilorin will be responsible for Kwara and Niger states, while 10 Division Jalingo will oversee border areas of Taraba and Adamawa states.
Meanwhile, 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 Army also disclosed that 83 Division Benin City, expected to become operational later this year, will oversee Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states.
“The newly established Divisions will immediately commence operations in their respective locations on attainment of Initial Operational Capability (IOC), while deliberate measures are being implemented to progressively attain Full Operational Capability (FOC),” the statement added.
The military said the expansion of its divisional structure is aimed at improving operational effectiveness, strengthening command coordination and creating a more responsive force capable of addressing Nigeria’s growing security challenges.
