Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigerian Army Headquarters to locate the headquarters of the newly created 83 Division of the Nigerian Army in Delta State.
Oborevwori made the appeal when he received a delegation from the Nigerian Army Headquarters led by the Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation, Major-General Thompson Bobby Ugiagbe, during a stakeholders’ consultative visit to the state on the realignment of Areas of Responsibility following the creation of the new division.
The governor argued that Delta was strategically positioned to host the 83 Division headquarters because of its centrality to Delta, Edo and Bayelsa states, as well as the concentration of critical national oil and gas infrastructure within the state.
According to him, situating the headquarters in Delta would facilitate faster military response to security threats and enhance the protection of strategic national assets across the South-South region.
“Delta State is more central. Somebody coming from Edo will come through Delta, while somebody from Bayelsa to Edo will also pass through Delta. If the headquarters is located here, everybody can connect to the centre,” he said.
Oborevwori noted that Delta contributes significantly to Nigeria’s oil and gas production and hosts numerous strategic assets that require effective security protection.
He further pointed to the state’s transportation infrastructure, including three airports and four seaports, as additional reasons for its suitability to host the new military 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,” the governor said.
He therefore urged the Army committee to recommend Delta to the Chief of Army Staff and President Tinubu as the preferred location for the division headquarters, assuring that the state government was prepared to support the establishment and take-off of the formation.
The governor said the state was willing to provide land and temporary facilities, as well as make financial contributions towards the effective commencement of operations.
“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,” Oborevwori said.
He recalled that his administration had previously provided land and infrastructure support for military formations established in Delta, assuring the Nigerian Army of the state government’s continued cooperation.
Oborevwori also highlighted the state’s pool of retired senior military officers, including several retired four-star generals, saying that locating the headquarters of the new division in Delta would, in addition, serve as fitting recognition of their distinguished service to the nation.
Earlier, Major-General Ugiagbe conveyed the goodwill of the Chief of Army Staff and commended the governor and people of Delta State for their continued support for the Nigerian Army.
He explained that the creation of the 83 Division followed President Tinubu’s approval for the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions.
According to him, the 83 Division will have responsibility for Delta, Edo and Bayelsa states, with the restructuring expected to bring additional military formations into the affected areas to strengthen security coverage and eliminate gaps in the existing deployment structure.
Ugiagbe disclosed that Delta would retain the 63 Brigade headquarters in Asaba, as well as three battalions in Warri, the 90 Amphibious Battalion and the 181 Battalion.
He added that the state would also receive three additional formations: the 246 Recce Battalion, already established in Oleh; a new Field Artillery Regiment; and an Air Defence Regiment.
He said the additional formations were necessary given Delta’s strategic importance and the need to strengthen the Army’s operational presence across the state.
The Army chief explained that the proposed Field Artillery Regiment would be located close to the brigade headquarters, while the Air Defence Regiment was 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,” he said.
Ugiagbe also sought the state government’s assistance with temporary facilities and land to enable the new formations to commence operations pending the development of permanent infrastructure.
He said the Army would subsequently collaborate with relevant state agencies, including mapping and geographical information authorities, to identify, document and properly delineate the land required for the various formations.
Ugiagbe stressed that the Army’s deployment strategy was designed to achieve wider geographical spread, strengthen security coverage and reduce response time to security threats within the 83 Division’s Area of Responsibility.
