COAS Shaibu appoints commanders for 4 new Nigerian Army divisions as Tinubu-approved restructuring takes effect
Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu has approved the appointment of General Officers Commanding for four newly created Nigerian Army divisions, following President Bola Tinubu's approval for the force structure expansion. The restructuring reorganizes divisional responsibilities across states, with 1 Division (Kaduna) now covering Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa; 2 Division (Ibadan) overseeing Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo; 3 Division (Jos) managing Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe; and the new 5 Division (Makurdi) taking charge of Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states.
Further assignments include 6 Division (Port Harcourt) for Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River; 7 Division (Maiduguri) for Borno and Yobe; 8 Division (Sokoto) retaining Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara; and 81 Division (Lagos) maintaining oversight of Lagos and Ogun States. The newly established 9 Division (Ilorin) will cover Kwara and Niger under Maj. Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, while 10 Division (Jalingo) under Maj. Gen. Chinedu Nnebeife handles Taraba and Adamawa border areas. 82 Division (Enugu) keeps Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo, and 83 Division (Benin City) will cover Edo, Delta and Bayelsa when activated later this year.
Appointed commanders include Maj. Gen. Yakubu Yahaya (redeployed from OPSS North Central) to 9 Division/Ilorin, Maj. Gen. Chinedu Nnebeife (from 2 Division/North West) to 10 Division/Jalingo, and Maj. Gen. Moses Gara (from OPWS) to 5 Division/Makurdi as dual GOC and Operation WHIRL STROKE commander. The divisions will commence operations upon achieving Initial Operational Capability, with phased progression to Full Operational Capability to ensure seamless force projection nationwide.
With this restructuring affecting security operations across all 36 states, how might the realignment of military command structures impact local security dynamics in your state, particularly regarding the new divisions taking over border states like Taraba/Adamawa or the Niger Delta coverage by 83 Division?
SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/07/29/nigerian-army-names-gocs-for-newly-established-divisions/