By Jane Okafor, Abuja
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 in a major move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture and enhancing 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 part of the administration’s broader efforts to bolster national defence and tackle the country’s evolving security challenges.
According to the statement, the expansion will improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, protect critical national infrastructure, and enhance counter-insurgency and other internal security operations across the country.
The new structure will see the Nigerian Army operating 12 divisions strategically located nationwide. The existing divisions include the 1 Division in Kaduna; 2 Division, Ibadan; 3 Division, Jos; 6 Division, Port Harcourt; 7 Division, Maiduguri; 8 Division, Sokoto; 81 Division, Lagos; and 82 Division, Enugu.
Four new divisions will be established in Makurdi (5 Division), Ilorin (9 Division), Jalingo (10 Division), and Benin City (83 Division), extending the Army’s operational reach and ensuring quicker response to emerging security threats.
Under the arrangement, the 5 Division in Makurdi will oversee Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states, while the 9 Division in Ilorin will cover Kwara and Niger states.
The 10 Division in Jalingo will be responsible for Taraba and Adamawa states, while the 83 Division in Benin City will oversee Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states.
The statement said the force expansion builds on the Tinubu administration’s sustained investment in the Armed Forces, including the acquisition of military platforms and equipment, improved troop welfare, operational readiness, and force modernisation.
Implementation of the new force structure 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 restructuring, is scheduled for completion 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 defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustained investment in the Armed Forces to ensure they remain well-equipped, highly motivated and fully capable of safeguarding the nation and protecting the lives and property of Nigerians.
