Army Appoints GOCs, Commanders to Lead Newly Established Divisions, Brigades

The Nigerian Army is undergoing a significant expansion, with the establishment of four new divisions and the appointment of General Officers Commanding (GOCs) to lead them. This move increases the Army's total divisions from eight to twelve, a strategic decision approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The expansion is designed to bolster the nation's command and control structures, enhance operational effectiveness, and improve the military's response capabilities against terrorism and other emerging security challenges. President Tinubu's approval on July 23, 2026, also included the recruitment of 28,000 personnel to support kinetic operations.

New divisional headquarters are set to be established in Makurdi (5 Division), Ilorin (9 Division), Jalingo (10 Division), and Benin City (83 Division). The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaib, has approved the GOC appointments to operationalize these new formations. Colonel Apollonia Anele, Acting Director of Army Public Relations, stated that these developments are part of ongoing efforts to expand the Army's operational footprint and command structure.

These newly established divisions will commence operations upon achieving Initial Operational Capability (IOC), with measures in place for a progressive move towards Full Operational Capability (FOC). This phased approach aims to ensure seamless operations, continuity, and rapid force projection across the country. The Army has also undertaken a comprehensive reorganization of its existing divisional areas of responsibility to align with the expanded structure.

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The development forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the Nigerian Army’s force structure, expand its operational footprint, enhance command and control, and improve its capacity to respond effectively to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.