Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Army to establish the headquarters of the newly created 83 Division in Delta State.
Oborevwori made the request on Tuesday when he received a delegation from the Nigerian Army Headquarters led by the Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation, Major-General Thompson Ugiagbe.
The meeting formed part of the Army’s stakeholders’ consultation on the realignment of its Areas of Responsibility following the Federal Government’s approval for the creation of additional military divisions.
The governor argued that Delta’s strategic geographical position and concentration of critical national assets made the state an ideal location for the new division’s headquarters.
Oborevwori said establishing the headquarters in Delta would improve the Army’s ability to respond quickly to security threats across the division’s proposed area of responsibility, which includes Delta, Edo and Bayelsa states.
He explained that Delta’s location provides a central link between the three states and would make it easier for security forces to move across the area.
“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.
Oborevwori also highlighted the state’s strategic infrastructure, including airports and seaports, which he said required enhanced security.
According to the governor, Delta has airports in Asaba, Osubi and Escravos, as well as seaports in Warri, Burutu, Sapele and Koko.
“These are critical assets that require security,” he said.
The governor further noted that Delta had produced several senior military officers, including retired generals, saying hosting the division headquarters would also recognise their contributions to national service.
Earlier, Major-General Ugiagbe said the Army’s visit was part of consultations following President Tinubu’s approval for the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions.
He said the newly created 83 Division would oversee Delta, Edo and Bayelsa, while additional military formations would be established to strengthen security coverage.
Ugiagbe disclosed that Delta would retain the 63 Brigade headquarters in Asaba, alongside the three battalions in Warri, the 90 Amphibious Battalion and the 181 Battalion.
He added that three additional formations would be established in the state.
They include the 246 Reconnaissance Battalion, which has already been established in Oleh, a Field Artillery Regiment and an Air Defence Regiment.
Ugiagbe said 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.
He explained that the Air Defence Regiment would provide broad security coverage for strategic assets such as airports, refineries and other critical national infrastructure.
“The Air Defence Regiment provides large coverage for critical assets like airports, refineries and other critical national infrastructure,” he said.
The Army chief appealed to the Delta State Government to provide temporary facilities and land for the new formations while permanent infrastructure is developed.
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He said the Army would work with relevant state government agencies to identify, map and properly document the land required for the new military facilities.
According to Ugiagbe, the restructuring is intended to improve the geographical distribution of military formations, strengthen security coverage and reduce response time to threats across the 83 Division’s area of responsibility.
The proposed expansion is expected to increase the Army’s operational presence in the Niger Delta while improving the protection of critical infrastructure and the response to emerging security threats across Delta, Edo and Bayelsa states.
