By Joy Yesufu
President Bola Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions and authorised the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s security architecture and improve military operations nationwide.
The approval, announced on Thursday in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, is aimed at enhancing the Army’s operational effectiveness, improving command and control, and boosting its capacity to respond to emerging security threats.
According to the Presidency, the expansion forms part of the Tinubu administration’s ongoing military modernisation programme, which includes increased investment in troop welfare, the acquisition of military hardware and equipment, and sustained support for operational readiness.
Under the new force structure, the Nigerian Army will operate 12 divisions strategically located across the country.
The existing divisions are headquartered in Kaduna (1 Division), Ibadan (2 Division), Jos (3 Division), Port Harcourt (6 Division), Maiduguri (7 Division), Sokoto (8 Division), Lagos (81 Division) and Enugu (82 Division).
The newly approved divisions will be established in Makurdi (5 Division), Ilorin (9 Division), Jalingo (10 Division) and Benin City (83 Division).
According to the Presidency, the new formations are expected to improve operational coordination, decentralise command structures, strengthen border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure, support counter-insurgency operations and ensure quicker military responses to security threats across the country.
The implementation of the restructuring will be carried out in two phases.
The first phase, which includes the establishment of the 5, 9 and 10 Divisions as well as the reorganisation of existing formations, is scheduled for completion by September 2026.
The second phase, involving the creation of the 83 Division and further organisational adjustments, is expected to be concluded by December 2026.
President Tinubu commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, and officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for what he described as their professionalism, dedication and commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the Armed Forces through sustained investment in personnel, equipment and operational capacity to enable the military effectively confront the country’s evolving security challenges.
