Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has stepped up efforts to secure the headquarters of the newly established 83 Division of the Nigerian Army for Delta State, urging President Bola Tinubu and the Army authorities to consider the state as the ideal location.

Oborevwori made the call when he hosted 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 formed part of the Army’s ongoing consultations on the realignment of Areas of Responsibility following the creation of the 83 Division.

Making a strong case for Delta, Oborevwori described the state as the geographical and strategic hub of the proposed division, noting that it sits at the centre of Delta, Edo and Bayelsa states.

He argued that placing the division headquarters in Delta would enable troops to respond more rapidly to security challenges across the South-South region while strengthening the protection of vital national infrastructure.

“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.

Beyond its geographical advantage, Oborevwori pointed to Delta’s enormous importance to Nigeria’s oil and gas economy. He noted that the state hosts a substantial share of the country’s oil and gas production, alongside other critical assets that require effective security coverage.

The governor further highlighted the state’s transportation infrastructure, including airports in Asaba, Osubi and Escravos, as well as seaports in Warri, Burutu, Sapele and Koko.

According to him, the concentration of such strategic facilities makes Delta a natural choice for the headquarters of the new Army division.

Oborevwori therefore urged the Army delegation to recommend Delta to the Chief of Army Staff and President Tinubu, assuring them that the state government was ready to provide the necessary support for the formation.

He said the government would make land available, provide temporary facilities and contribute financially towards ensuring a smooth take-off of the new military formations.

“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 declared.

The governor also recalled his administration’s previous support for military establishments in Delta, including the provision of land and infrastructure, promising that the state would sustain its partnership with the Nigerian Army.

He added that Delta’s large population of retired senior military officers, including several former four-star generals, further strengthened the argument for locating the division headquarters in the state, describing it as an appropriate recognition of their contributions to national service.

Earlier, Major-General Ugiagbe conveyed the goodwill of the Chief of Army Staff to the governor and the people of Delta, while acknowledging the state’s continued support for the Nigerian Army.

He explained that the establishment of the 83 Division was part of the Army’s expansion programme approved by President Tinubu, which increased the number of divisions from eight to 12.

The new division, he said, would oversee Delta, Edo and Bayelsa states as part of efforts to improve security coordination and eliminate operational gaps.

Under the new arrangement, Delta will retain the 63 Brigade headquarters in Asaba, three battalions in Warri, the 90 Amphibious Battalion and the 181 Battalion.

The state will also receive three additional formations: the 246 Recce Battalion, already established in Oleh, a new Field Artillery Regiment and an Air Defence Regiment.

Ugiagbe explained that the additional military formations were necessary because of Delta’s strategic importance and the need to expand the Army’s operational presence across the state.

The proposed Field Artillery Regiment is expected to be located close to the brigade headquarters, while Osubi has been proposed as the location for the Air Defence Regiment because of its strategic importance and proximity to critical infrastructure.

“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 sought the state government’s assistance with temporary facilities and land to enable the new formations to begin operations while permanent structures are developed.

Ugiagbe said the Army would collaborate with relevant state agencies, including those responsible for mapping and geographical information, to identify, survey and properly document the land required for the formations.

He stressed that the overall restructuring was designed to achieve better geographical spread, strengthen security coverage and significantly reduce response time to threats across the division’s area of responsibility.