The Nigerian Army has appointed new General Officers Commanding (GOCs) for recently created divisions following approval by President Bola Tinubu to expand the military’s command structure.
Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, approved the appointments as part of efforts to strengthen operational capacity, improve command and control, and respond more effectively to evolving security threats.
According to a statement posted on the Army’s official X account on Wednesday, the new divisions will begin operations once they attain Initial Operational Capability (IOC), with plans to scale up to Full Operational Capability (FOC).
The Army said the expansion is aimed at increasing its operational footprint and ensuring faster deployment of troops across the country.
Under the new structure, existing divisions retain their areas of responsibility, while new formations have been assigned strategic regions. The newly established 9 Division in Ilorin will cover Kwara and Niger states, while the 10 Division in Jalingo will oversee border areas in Taraba and Adamawa. The 5th Division in Makurdi will take charge of Benue, Nasarawa, and Kogi states.
Other divisions, including those in Kaduna, Ibadan, Jos, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Lagos, and Enugu, will continue to oversee their current operational areas. The 83 Division in Benin City is expected to commence operations later in the year.
To lead the new formations, Major General Yakubu Yahaya was appointed GOC 9 Division Ilorin, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife as GOC 10 Division Jalingo, and Major General Moses Gara as GOC 5 Division Makurdi.
The Army said the restructuring would enhance operational effectiveness, ensure seamless deployment, and improve rapid response to security challenges nationwide.
