Oborevwori Pushes Delta For 83 Division Army Headquarters, Cites Strategic Assets
By PAULINA NZERUBE
DELTA State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has asked President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Army to locate the headquarters of the newly created 83 Division in Delta State.
Oborevwori made the request when a Nigerian Army Headquarters delegation visited Asaba for consultations on the realignment of Areas of Responsibility following the creation of the new division.
The delegation was led by the Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation, Major-General Thompson Bobby Ugiagbe.
Oborevwori argued that Delta offers a strategic location for the headquarters because of its position between Delta, Edo and Bayelsa states.
He also pointed to the concentration of oil and gas facilities and other critical infrastructure across the state.
According to the governor, locating the headquarters in Delta would shorten military response times and strengthen the protection of strategic assets across the South-South.
“Delta State is more central,” Oborevwori said, stressing that the state provides an accessible link between the three states that will fall under the division.
The governor also highlighted Delta’s transport infrastructure. The state has airports in Asaba, Osubi and Escravos, alongside seaports in Warri, Burutu, Sapele and Koko.
Oborevwori said these facilities require effective security because of their importance to national economic activity.
Beyond making the request, the governor offered practical support. He said the state government could provide land and temporary facilities and contribute financially to the initial establishment of the new military formations.
He recalled that his administration had previously provided land and infrastructure support for military establishments in the state.
Oborevwori also cited Delta’s military pedigree. The state has produced and attracted several senior military officers, including retired four-star generals.
Meanwhile, Ugiagbe explained that President Tinubu approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions.
The 83 Division will cover Delta, Edo and Bayelsa. The restructuring will also create additional formations intended to close security gaps and improve military response.
Delta will retain the 63 Brigade headquarters in Asaba, as well as three battalions in Warri, the 90 Amphibious Battalion and the 181 Battalion.
The Army also plans to add three formations to the state. They include the 246 Recce Battalion in Oleh, a Field Artillery Regiment and an Air Defence Regiment.
Ugiagbe said the proposed Air Defence Regiment at Osubi would help protect critical infrastructure, including airports and refineries.
The Army plans to position the Field Artillery Regiment close to the brigade headquarters.
The proposed deployment reflects the military’s effort to spread its formations across the new division and reduce response times during security emergencies.
For Delta, the contest over the headquarters goes beyond prestige. The governor sees the location as an opportunity to strengthen the state’s security architecture while protecting assets central to Nigeria’s energy and transport networks.
The final decision, however, rests with the Nigerian Army and the Federal Government as consultations continue.
