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.
The expansion is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture and improving the operational effectiveness of the Army.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
According to the statement, the approval “underscores the President’s unwavering commitment to equipping the Armed Forces to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges effectively and to strengthen national defence capabilities further.”
Under the new structure, the Army will establish four new divisions with headquarters in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City.
The new structure will see the 12 divisions strategically positioned across the country, with the 1 Division headquartered in Kaduna, 2 Division in Ibadan, 3 Division in Jos, 5 Division in Makurdi, 6 Division in Port Harcourt, 7 Division in Maiduguri, 8 Division in Sokoto, 9 Division in Ilorin, 10 Division in Jalingo, 81 Division in Lagos, 82 Division in Enugu and 83 Division in Benin City.
The statement said the expansion would “significantly improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure, improve counter-insurgency and internal security operations, and ensure faster military response to emerging threats nationwide.”
It added that the expansion builds on the administration’s investments in the Armed Forces, including the approval for the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, acquisition of critical military platforms and equipment, improved troop welfare and support for operational readiness and force modernisation.
The implementation will be carried out in two phases.
The first phase, covering the establishment of the 5, 9 and 10 Divisions and the reorganisation of existing formations, is expected to be completed by September 2026.
The second phase, involving the establishment of the 83 Division and further reorganisation, is expected to be completed by December 2026.
Tinubu commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, and officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their dedication and commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The President also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to continued investment in the Armed Forces to ensure they remain adequately equipped, motivated and capable of protecting the nation and guaranteeing the safety of Nigerians.
