Nigerian Army Expands Command Structure with Four New Divisions

Nigeria's Army is expanding its command structure with the creation of four new divisions, a move approved by President Bola Tinubu. The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has appointed General Officers Commanding to lead these formations, which aim to bolster the Army's operational capacity and response to evolving security challenges.

The newly established divisions will commence operations after achieving Initial Operational Capability, with deliberate measures in place to reach Full Operational Capability. This expansion is designed to strengthen the Army's force structure, broaden its operational footprint, improve command and control, and enhance its ability to address Nigeria's security landscape.

The new divisional structure reorganizes existing formations and introduces new ones. The 1 Division in Kaduna will cover Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa states. The 2 Division in Ibadan will oversee Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo states. The 3 Division in Jos will cover Plateau, Bauchi, and Gombe states. The 5 Division in Makurdi will be responsible for Benue, Nasarawa, and Kogi states. The 6 Division in Port Harcourt will cover Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states. The 7 Division in Maiduguri will continue to manage Borno and Yobe states. The 8 Division in Sokoto will oversee Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara states. Additionally, the new 9 Division, headquartered in Ilorin, will cover Kwara and Niger states, while the 10 Division in Jalingo will manage border areas of Taraba and Adamawa states. The 81 Division in Lagos will continue to cover Lagos and Ogun states, and the 82 Division in Enugu will retain responsibility for Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi, and Imo states. The 83 Division in Benin City is slated to cover Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa states later in the year.

Senior officers with proven operational experience have been appointed to lead these new formations. Major General Yakubu Yahaya, formerly of Headquarters Joint Task Force (North Central), has been appointed General Officer Commanding the 9 Division in Ilorin and Commander of Operation SAVANNA SHIELD. This strategic expansion underscores the Nigerian Army's commitment to adapting its command and control mechanisms to effectively confront contemporary security threats.

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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.