By Oghenefejiro Emado
01, September 2026
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigerian Army authorities to choose Delta State as the headquarters of the newly created 83 Division of the Nigerian Army.
The Governor made the call on Monday when he received members of a high-powered committee from the Army Headquarters who were in the state on a stakeholders’ consultative visit. The visit is part of nationwide consultations on the realignment of Areas of Responsibility following the creation of new Army divisions.
The committee was led by the Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation, Major-General Thompson Bobby Ugiagbe.
Oborevwori told the delegation that Delta State is the most strategically suited location for the Division’s headquarters, citing its centrality within the proposed Area of Responsibility which covers Delta, Edo and Bayelsa States, and its status as home to critical national oil and gas assets.
He explained that siting the headquarters in Delta would drastically improve the Army’s operational response time and strengthen the protection of strategic economic assets across the South-South region.
“Delta State is more central. Somebody coming from Edo will come through Delta, while somebody coming from Bayelsa to Edo will also pass through Delta. If the headquarters is located here, everybody can connect to the centre,” the Governor said.
The Governor further argued that Delta’s immense contribution to the nation’s oil and gas production and its array of strategic infrastructure make a compelling case for the state to host the formation.
“We have three airports in Asaba, Osubi and Escravos and we also have seaports in Warri, Burutu, Sapele and Koko. These are critical assets that require security,” Oborevwori stated.
He urged the committee to recommend Delta to the Chief of Army Staff and President Tinubu as the preferred location, assuring that the state government is fully prepared to partner with the Army for the successful take-off of the Division.
According to him, Delta State is ready to provide land, temporary facilities and financial support for the new formations.
“This is not a passive appeal for the constitution of the division. It is a request for partnership from a state that understands what is at stake,” he said.
Oborevwori recalled that his administration has consistently supported military formations in the state with land and infrastructure, a commitment he said would be sustained. He also noted that Delta is home to a large number of retired senior military officers, including several retired four-star generals, adding that siting the headquarters in the state would be a fitting recognition of their service to the nation.
Earlier in his remarks, Major-General Ugiagbe conveyed the goodwill message of the Chief of Army Staff and thanked the Governor and people of Delta State for their sustained support to the Nigerian Army.
He disclosed that the creation of the 83 Division followed President Tinubu’s approval for the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 Divisions as part of efforts to enhance national security.
Ugiagbe explained that the new 83 Division will be responsible for Delta, Edo and Bayelsa States, adding that the restructuring will lead to the creation of more units to ensure robust security coverage and eliminate operational gaps.
He said Delta State will retain the 63 Brigade Headquarters in Asaba, three battalions in Warri, the 90 Amphibious Battalion and the 181 Battalion.
He further disclosed that the state will benefit from three additional units, including the 246 Recce Battalion already established in Oleh, a new Field Artillery Regiment and an Air Defence Regiment.
According to him, the additional formations are necessary given Delta’s strategic importance and the need to strengthen the Army’s presence across the state.
“The Army has proposed locating the Field Artillery Regiment close to the Brigade Headquarters, while the Air Defence Regiment is being proposed for Osubi because of its strategic importance and proximity to critical infrastructure, including the airport.
“The Air Defence Regiment provides a large coverage for critical assets like airports, refineries and other critical national infrastructure,” Ugiagbe said.
He appealed to the state government for support in providing temporary facilities and land to enable the new formations to commence operations while permanent structures are being developed, adding that the Army will work with relevant state agencies, including mapping and geographic information authorities, to properly identify and document the required land.
Ugiagbe stressed that the Army’s deployment strategy is designed to ensure geographical spread and reduce response time to security threats across the Division’s area of responsibility.
