Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has urged the Federal Government and the Nigerian Army to establish the headquarters of the newly created 83 Division in Delta State, citing the state’s strategic location and concentration of critical national assets.
Oborevwori made the appeal on Monday 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.
The visit was part of consultations by the Army on the realignment of Areas of Responsibility following the creation of the 83 Division.
Making a strong case for Delta, the governor said the state offered significant geographical and operational advantages because of its proximity to Edo and Bayelsa states, which are also within the division’s proposed area of responsibility.
“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,” he said.
Oborevwori further pointed to the state’s importance to Nigeria’s oil and gas economy, noting that its concentration of strategic installations made the need for a strong military presence particularly compelling.
He listed the state’s three airports in Asaba, Osubi and Escravos, as well as seaports in Warri, Burutu, Sapele and Koko, among other critical infrastructure requiring adequate security.
“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 appealed to the Army delegation to recommend Delta State to the Chief of Army Staff and President Bola Tinubu as the preferred location for the division headquarters.
According to him, the state government was prepared to support the Army with land, temporary facilities and financial assistance to facilitate the take-off of the formation.
“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.
The governor recalled that his administration had previously provided land and infrastructure support for military formations established in the state, assuring that the government would sustain its partnership with the Nigerian Army.
He also highlighted Delta’s large population of retired senior military officers, including former four-star generals, saying the establishment of the division headquarters in the state would be an additional recognition of their contributions to national service.
Army Explains New Structure
Earlier, Major-General Ugiagbe conveyed the goodwill of the Chief of Army Staff and commended the Delta State Government and people 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.
The new division, he said, would oversee Delta, Edo and Bayelsa states, with the restructuring expected to bring additional military formations aimed at strengthening security coverage and eliminating operational gaps.
Ugiagbe disclosed that Delta would retain the 63 Brigade headquarters in Asaba, three battalions in Warri, the 90 Amphibious Battalion and the 181 Battalion.
The state, he added, would also host three additional formations: the 246 Recce Battalion already established in Oleh, a new Field Artillery Regiment and an Air Defence Regiment.
He said the decision to expand the Army’s presence in Delta was informed by the state’s strategic importance and the need to strengthen security coverage across the area.
According to him, the proposed Field Artillery Regiment would be located close to the brigade headquarters, while the Air Defence Regiment was being considered for Osubi because of its strategic location 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.
The Army delegation also requested the state government’s assistance with temporary facilities and land for the new formations pending the development of permanent infrastructure.
Ugiagbe said the Army would subsequently collaborate with relevant state agencies, including those responsible for mapping and geographical information, to identify, survey and properly document land required for the formations.
He stressed that the Army’s deployment strategy was designed to achieve wider geographical coverage, strengthen the military presence and reduce response time to security threats within the 83 Division’s Area of Responsibility.
