DELTA GOVERNOR SAYS STATE’S CENTRAL LOCATION, OIL AND GAS ASSETS, AIRPORTS AND SEAPORTS MAKE IT THE BEST BASE FOR NEW SOUTH-SOUTH ARMY COMMAND
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigerian Army to reconsider the planned location of the headquarters of the newly created 83 Division and site it in Delta State.
Oborevwori made the demand 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 consultation is part of the Army’s ongoing preparations for the realignment of Areas of Responsibility following the creation of new divisions under the Federal Government’s restructuring of the Nigerian Army.
The governor’s demand is significant because the Nigerian Army had earlier announced that the new 83 Division would be headquartered in Benin City and would have responsibility for Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states. The division is expected to become operational in the second phase of the Army’s restructuring later in 2026.
Oborevwori, however, is now making a direct case for Delta State to host the headquarters, arguing that the state offers what he described as strategic advantages for the effective coordination of security operations across the three states.
According to the governor, Delta occupies a more central position within the proposed area of responsibility and would provide easier access to Edo and Bayelsa.
He argued that a headquarters located in Delta would make it easier for military personnel and equipment to move between the three states and respond quickly to security threats.
“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 argument comes at a time when the Federal Government is expanding the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions, with the stated objective of improving command and control, decentralising operational decision-making, strengthening security coverage and reducing response time to emerging threats.
The creation of the 83 Division is therefore expected to have major implications for security operations across Edo, Delta and Bayelsa.
For Delta, the governor believes the state’s strategic assets make the argument for hosting the headquarters even stronger.
Oborevwori pointed to the state’s large concentration of oil and gas infrastructure, which he said requires adequate protection because of its importance to Nigeria’s economy.
He also cited Delta’s airports and seaports as additional reasons why the state should be considered.
According to the governor, Delta has airports in Asaba, Osubi and Escravos, while the state also has major seaports in Warri, Burutu, Sapele and Koko.
“These are critical assets that require security,” he said.
The governor therefore wants the Army committee to recommend Delta State to the Chief of Army Staff and President Tinubu as the location for the 83 Division headquarters.
But Oborevwori is not presenting the proposal as a request for federal infrastructure alone.
He said the Delta State Government was prepared to support the establishment of the division by providing land, temporary facilities and financial assistance needed for the formation to begin 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,” he said.
The governor also recalled previous support provided by his administration for military formations in the state.
He assured the Army that Delta would continue to support military operations and the establishment of additional formations.
Oborevwori further argued that Delta has a large number of retired senior military officers, including retired four-star generals.
He said locating the headquarters in the state would also recognise the contributions of former military officers from Delta who served the country.
The Army delegation, meanwhile, explained that the creation of the 83 Division was part of a wider restructuring approved by President Tinubu.
The Nigerian Army has already announced a 12-division structure, with the 83 Division assigned to Edo, Delta and Bayelsa and the headquarters designated for Benin City.
Under the announced arrangement, the second phase of the restructuring, which includes the establishment of the 83 Division, is expected to be completed by December 2026.
The Army’s consultation in Delta, therefore, provides an opportunity for the state government and other stakeholders to make their case before the final operational arrangements are completed.
Major-General Ugiagbe said the new division would be responsible for Delta, Edo and Bayelsa states.
He explained that the restructuring would also lead to the creation of additional military units in Delta to strengthen security coverage and prevent gaps in the Army’s existing deployment.
According to him, Delta State would retain the 63 Brigade headquarters in Asaba, alongside three battalions in Warri, the 90 Amphibious Battalion and the 181 Battalion.
The state is also expected to receive three additional formations.
These include the 246 Recce Battalion, already established in Oleh, a new Field Artillery Regiment and an Air Defence Regiment.
The proposed deployment means Delta could receive a stronger military presence even if the divisional headquarters remains in Benin City.
The Army explained that the additional formations are being considered because of Delta’s strategic importance and the need to strengthen its security footprint.
The Field Artillery Regiment is proposed to be located close to the brigade headquarters, while the Air Defence Regiment is being proposed for Osubi.
The choice of Osubi is linked to the strategic importance of the airport and other critical infrastructure in the area.
Ugiagbe explained that the Air Defence Regiment would provide protection for critical national infrastructure, including airports, refineries and other important assets.
The Army also requested the support of the Delta State Government for temporary facilities and land that would allow the new formations to commence operations while permanent infrastructure is being developed.
The state government and the Army are expected to work together through relevant agencies to identify, map and document suitable land for the formations.
The development has now opened an important strategic debate over where the 83 Division headquarters should actually be located.
The Army’s original structure places the headquarters in Benin City, but Delta is now formally putting forward a competing argument based on geography, infrastructure and economic importance.
For the Nigerian Army, the most important consideration will ultimately be operational effectiveness.
The purpose of the new division is not simply to create another administrative headquarters but to improve the military’s ability to respond to security threats across the three states.
Kidnapping, oil theft, attacks on critical infrastructure, communal conflicts, piracy and other security challenges require quick movement of troops and effective coordination between formations.
Delta’s position is that its road, air and maritime connections make it a natural operational centre.
The state’s oil and gas infrastructure also gives it a strong national-security argument.
On the other hand, the Army’s already announced structure places the headquarters in Benin City, and any change would have to be considered within the wider operational plan for the 83 Division.
The decision will therefore rest with the military authorities and the Federal Government after consultations with relevant stakeholders.
What is clear is that the creation of the 83 Division has already triggered competition among stakeholders over where the new command should be based.
For Delta State, Governor Oborevwori has made his position clear: the headquarters should come to Delta.
The governor has also attached resources to the demand, promising land, temporary facilities and financial support.
The question now is whether the Nigerian Army will maintain Benin City as the headquarters of the 83 Division or reconsider the location based on the new arguments being presented by Delta State.
Whatever decision is eventually taken, the location of the headquarters must serve one central purpose — to put the Nigerian Army in the strongest possible position to protect Edo, Delta and Bayelsa and respond quickly when security threats emerge.
The debate is therefore bigger than a contest between states.
It is about geography, security, infrastructure, national assets and the ability of the military to respond effectively across one of Nigeria’s most strategically important regions.
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