Military Expansion Gains Momentum
…as Army Announces New Division Commanders
The Nigerian Army has announced the appointment of General Officers Commanding (GOCs) for four newly created divisions, marking a major step in its ongoing expansion aimed at strengthening national security and improving operational effectiveness across the country.
The appointments, approved by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, were disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday, July 29, 2026.
According to the Army, the creation of the new formations is designed to broaden its operational presence, enhance command and control, and improve its capacity to tackle Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
The newly established divisions will commence operations once they attain Initial Operational Capability (IOC), with plans to gradually achieve Full Operational Capability (FOC). The phased rollout is expected to ensure uninterrupted operations while enabling quicker deployment of personnel and resources.
Under the new operational structure, 1 Division, Kaduna, will oversee Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states, while 2 Division, Ibadan, will cover Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states.
The 3 Division, Jos, will retain responsibility for Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states, while the newly created 5 Division in Makurdi will oversee Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi. The 6 Division, Port Harcourt, will continue to cover Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River, while 7 Division, Maiduguri, remains responsible for Borno and Yobe.
Similarly, 8 Division, Sokoto, will continue to oversee Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara, while the new 9 Division, Ilorin, will supervise Kwara and Niger states. The newly established 10 Division in Jalingo will take charge of border areas in Taraba and Adamawa.
The 81 Division, Lagos, retains responsibility for Lagos and Ogun states, while 82 Division, Enugu, continues to oversee Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo. The 83 Division, headquartered in Benin City, will assume responsibility for Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states upon its activation later this year.
To head the new formations, Major General Yakubu Yahaya has been appointed GOC of 9 Division and Commander of Operation SAVANNA SHIELD. Major General Chinedu Ralph Nnebeife will lead 10 Division, while Major General Moses Gara takes charge of 5 Division and will also serve as Commander of Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE. Major General Auwalu Mahmuda has been appointed GOC of 2 Division, Ibadan.
The Army also announced the activation of three additional brigades to reinforce its operational structure. They include 11 Brigade, Gboko, under Brigadier General A.O. Odubiyi; 29 Brigade, Kainji, led by Brigadier General A.M. Haruna; and 10 Brigade, Lafia, commanded by Brigadier General R.M. Aminu.
Lieutenant General Shaibu urged the newly appointed commanders to provide purposeful leadership, sustain operational gains, and uphold the highest standards of professionalism and discipline.
The Army noted that the expanded structure would enhance border security, improve joint operations, speed up troop deployment and strengthen its overall response to emerging security threats across the country.
The appointments follow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval, announced on July 23, 2026, for the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions and the recruitment of an additional 28,000 personnel as part of the Federal Government’s military modernisation programme.
The expansion also includes the acquisition of new military equipment, improved welfare for troops and increased investment in operational readiness, with the new divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City expected to reinforce command efficiency and decentralise military operations nationwide.
