Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State on Tuesday asked President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Army to set up the headquarters of the new 83 Division in the state.
Oborevwori made this request during a meeting with a committee from the Nigerian Army Headquarters at the Government House in Asaba.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the committee, led by Major-General Thompson Bobby Ugiagbe, was in Delta for discussions on the new division's area of responsibility.
Oborevwori stated that Delta is a good choice for the headquarters. He pointed out that Delta is centrally located among Delta, Edo, and Bayelsa. He also mentioned the presence of important national oil and gas assets in the state.
He said having the headquarters in Delta would help the army respond quickly and protect national assets in the South-south region.
"Delta 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 highlighted that Delta is a major player in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. He added that the state has other important assets needing security.
He noted that Delta has three airports and four seaports, making it an ideal place for the new division.
"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," he said.
Oborevwori urged the committee to suggest Delta as the headquarters to the Chief of Army Staff and the President. He assured that the state is ready to support this new formation.
He said the state government is willing to provide land, temporary facilities, and financial support to help set up the new division.
"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 reminded everyone that his administration had already provided land and support for military bases in the state. He promised that the government would keep supporting the Nigerian Army.
The governor also mentioned that Delta has many retired senior military officers, including some retired four-star generals.
He noted that having the division headquarters in Delta would honor their service to the country.
Earlier, Ugiagbe conveyed the goodwill of the Chief of Army Staff. He thanked the governor and the people of Delta for their support.
He explained that the creation of the 83 Division followed President Tinubu’s approval to expand the Nigerian army from eight to 12 divisions.
According to him, the new 83 Division would cover Delta, Edo, and Bayelsa.
Ugiagbe added that this restructuring would lead to new military units being formed to improve security and fill gaps in the current arrangement.
He mentioned that Delta will keep the 63 Brigade headquarters in Asaba, three battalions in Warri, the 90 Amphibious Battalion, and the 181 Battalion.
He also shared that the state would get three additional units, the 246 Recce Battalion already in Oleh, a new Field Artillery Regiment, and an Air Defence Regiment.
Ugiagbe explained that these new formations were needed because of Delta’s strategic importance and the need to strengthen the army’s presence in the state.
He noted that the army plans to place the Field Artillery Regiment near the brigade headquarters, while the Air Defence Regiment is suggested for Osubi due to its importance and closeness to critical facilities, including the airport.
"The Air Defence Regiment provides a large coverage for critical assets like airports, refineries and other critical national infrastructure," he said.
The army chief also requested the state government’s help for temporary facilities and land so the new formations can start working while permanent structures are built.
He said the army would later collaborate with the state’s relevant agencies to identify and document the land needed for the new formations.
Ugiagbe stated that the army's deployment plan aims to ensure good coverage and lower response times to security issues in the division's area.
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