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COAS Appoints GOCs for New Army Divisions to Boost Security Response
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Conflict & Security

COAS Appoints GOCs for New Army Divisions to Boost Security Response

From Vanguard · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff has approved the appointment of General Officers Commanding (GOCs) for newly established army divisions, following presidential approval for four new divisions.
  • The expansion aims to strengthen the army's structure, enhance operational reach, and improve its capacity to address evolving security challenges across Nigeria.
  • The new divisional structure reorganizes areas of responsibility to improve security coordination in various states, with specific GOCs appointed to lead these formations.

Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved the appointment of General Officers Commanding (GOCs) for newly established army divisions. This move follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's approval for the creation of four additional divisions within the Nigerian Army.

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.

— Col Appolonia AneleActing Director, Army Public Relations, explaining the purpose of the new army divisions.

According to a statement by Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col Appolonia Anele, this significant development is part of ongoing efforts to bolster the Nigerian Army's force structure. The expansion aims to broaden its operational footprint, improve command and control, and enhance the service's capacity to effectively respond to the nation's dynamic security challenges.

The newly established Divisions will immediately commence operations, in the respective locations, on attainment of Initial Operational Capability (IOC) while deliberate measures are being implemented to progressively attain Full Operational Capability (FOC).

— Col Appolonia AneleActing Director, Army Public Relations, detailing the operational rollout plan.

The newly established divisions will commence operations upon achieving Initial Operational Capability (IOC), with deliberate measures in place for a phased approach to Full Operational Capability (FOC). This strategy ensures seamless operationalization, continuity, and rapid force projection nationwide. The army has undertaken a comprehensive reorganization of its Divisional Areas of Responsibility to support this expansion.

This phased approach will ensure seamless operationalisation, operational continuity and rapid force projection across the country.

— Col Appolonia AneleActing Director, Army Public Relations, describing the benefits of the phased approach.

Under the revised structure, several divisions have been assigned specific states for security oversight. For instance, 1 Division Kaduna will cover Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa states, while the new 5 Division, headquartered in Makurdi, will be responsible for Benue, Nasarawa, and Kogi states. The newly established 9 Division in Ilorin will cover Kwara and Niger states, and the 10 Division in Jalingo will focus on Taraba and Adamawa border areas. Seasoned senior officers have been appointed as GOCs to lead these new formations, including Major General Yakubu Yahaya and Major General Chinedu Ralph Nnebeife in new capacities.

Major General Yakubu Yahaya redeployed from Headquarters Joint Task Force (North Central), Operation Savannah Shield (OPSS), to Headquarters 9 Division, Ilorin, as the General Officer Commanding and Commander, Operation Savanna Shield.

— VanguardReporting the appointment of a specific GOC.
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Originally published by Vanguard in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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