President Bola 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 Nigeria’s security architecture and enhance 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 improving the Armed Forces’ capacity to tackle the country’s evolving security challenges and boost national defence.
According to the statement, the expansion is part of the administration’s continued investment in the military, which includes the acquisition of critical military platforms and equipment, improved troop welfare, enhanced operational readiness, and force modernisation.
Under the new structure, the Nigerian Army will operate 12 divisions located in Kaduna, Ibadan, Jos, Makurdi, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Ilorin, Jalingo, Lagos, Enugu and Benin City, with each division overseeing designated states across the country.
The newly created divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City are expected to improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, protect critical national infrastructure, enhance counter-insurgency and internal security operations, and ensure faster responses to emerging threats.
The implementation of the new force structure will be carried out in two phases. The first phase, which includes the establishment of the 5, 9 and 10 Divisions and the reorganisation of existing formations, is scheduled for completion by September 2026, while the second phase, involving the creation of the 83 Division and additional restructuring, 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 professionalism and commitment to safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty.
He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustained investment in the Armed Forces to ensure they remain well-equipped, motivated and capable of protecting Nigeria and its citizens.
