Okpebholo Assures Speedy Operationalisation of 83 Division in Edo
By De Parrot Media
Benin City, Edo State — September 7, 2026
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has assured that the temporary facility provided by the Edo State Government for the immediate operationalisation of the newly approved 83 Division of the Nigerian Army will be ready within the next two weeks.
Governor Okpebholo gave the assurance on Monday during an inspection of ongoing rehabilitation and development work at the temporary facility located in Teboga, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State. The inspection was aimed at assessing the level of preparedness of the facility ahead of the commencement of operations by the new Army division.
The establishment of the 83 Division in Benin is part of the Federal Government’s decision to create four new divisions of the Nigerian Army in strategic locations across the country. The other newly approved divisions are the 5 Division in Makurdi, 9 Division in Ilorin and 10 Division in Jalingo.
Speaking during the inspection, Governor Okpebholo said work had already commenced at the Teboga facility, with environmental sanitation, rehabilitation of existing structures and other preparatory activities currently ongoing.
According to the governor, the state government is working to ensure that the barracks and other necessary facilities are completed within the two-week timeline. He disclosed that contractors handling the rehabilitation had assured him of the deployment of additional bulldozers and other equipment to accelerate the pace of work.
“The new division is coming to Edo State, so work is already in progress. Cleaning of the environment is already ongoing, while the existing structures are being worked on,” the governor said.
Okpebholo further stated that the rehabilitation of existing buildings would continue simultaneously with other construction and preparatory activities, stressing that the state was fully prepared to host the new Army formation.
He also disclosed that alternative temporary office spaces were available and could be deployed for immediate use if required, reinforcing the state’s commitment to ensuring that administrative and operational activities of the division are not delayed by ongoing rehabilitation work.
The governor expressed confidence that significant progress would be recorded at the facility within the next two weeks, noting that the deployment of additional heavy-duty equipment would enhance the speed and efficiency of the rehabilitation exercise.
The development is expected to further strengthen the security architecture of Edo State and provide an enhanced operational presence for the Nigerian Army in the state and surrounding areas. The establishment of the 83 Division also underscores the strategic importance of Edo within the broader security framework of the country.
Speaking with journalists after the inspection, the Commander of the 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brigadier-General Ahmed Balogun, said the visit was in furtherance of the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the immediate operationalisation of the 83 Division.
Balogun explained that the directive was conveyed through the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Waidi Shaibu, and that the Army had commenced steps to ensure that the new division becomes operational as directed.
He disclosed that a team from Army Headquarters had visited the facility approximately four or five days earlier to assess the site and advance preparations for the implementation of the strategic directive.
The Brigade Commander commended Governor Okpebholo for making the temporary facility available to the Nigerian Army, describing the progress recorded between the previous visit and Monday’s inspection as tremendous.
“Between the last time we came here, about four or five days ago, and now, we have seen tremendous work ongoing in that regard,” Balogun said.
He expressed confidence that the facility would be ready within the shortest possible time for the immediate operationalisation of the 83 Division, while appreciating the Edo State Government for its support and cooperation with the Nigerian Army.
The development marks another significant step in the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s military presence and operational capacity across strategically important parts of the country. For Edo State, the arrival of the 83 Division is expected to complement existing security formations and contribute to efforts aimed at protecting lives, property and critical infrastructure.
The Edo State Government has reiterated its readiness to provide the necessary support for the successful establishment and take-off of the division, with Governor Okpebholo maintaining that the ongoing rehabilitation will be accelerated to meet the agreed timeline.
De Parrot Media
September 7, 2026