President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions and the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s security architecture and improve the military’s operational effectiveness.
The approval, announced in a State House statement on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, is aimed at enhancing the Armed Forces’ capacity to tackle Nigeria’s evolving security challenges and bolster national defence.
According to the statement, the expansion is part of the administration’s sustained investments in the military, which include the acquisition of critical military platforms and equipment, improvements in troop welfare, and continued support for operational readiness and force modernisation.
Under the new structure, the Nigerian Army will operate 12 divisions across the country. Four new divisions will be established in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City, while the existing formations will be reorganised.
The divisions will be headquartered in Kaduna, Ibadan, Jos, Makurdi, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Ilorin, Jalingo, Lagos, Enugu and Benin City, with each responsible for designated states within its area of operation.
The Presidency said the new divisions would improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure, boost counter-insurgency and internal security operations, and ensure quicker military responses to emerging threats nationwide.
Implementation of the new force structure will be carried out in two phases. The first phase, which includes the establishment of the 5 Division in Makurdi, the 9 Division in Ilorin, and the 10 Division in Jalingo, alongside the reorganisation of existing formations, is scheduled for completion by September 2026.
The second phase, involving the establishment of the 83 Division in Benin City and further restructuring of the Army, is expected to be completed by December 2026.
President Tinubu commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, as well as officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their dedication, professionalism and commitment to defending the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustained investment in the Armed Forces to ensure they remain well-equipped, highly motivated and capable of safeguarding the lives and property of Nigerians.
