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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a major expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions and sanctioned the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel in a sweeping effort to strengthen the country’s security architecture and improve military operations nationwide.
The approval, announced in a State House statement on Thursday, marks one of the most significant reforms of the Nigerian Army’s structure in recent years and reflects the administration’s commitment to enhancing national defence capabilities amid evolving security challenges.
According to the statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the expansion is designed to improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, protect critical national infrastructure, and boost counter-insurgency as well as internal security operations.
The new structure will see the Nigerian Army operate 12 divisions strategically spread across the country. Existing divisions in Kaduna, Ibadan, Jos, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Lagos and Enugu will be complemented by four new divisions headquartered in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City.
Under the arrangement, the Makurdi Division will oversee military operations in Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states; the Ilorin Division will cover Kwara and Niger states; the Jalingo Division will serve Taraba and Adamawa states; while the Benin City Division will oversee Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states.
The Presidency said the creation of the new divisions would enhance the military’s operational efficiency by ensuring faster responses to emerging threats and improving coordination across the country’s security landscape.
The restructuring builds on the Tinubu administration’s continued investment in the Armed Forces, which includes the approval for the recruitment of 28,000 new personnel, procurement of critical military platforms and equipment, improved welfare for troops, and sustained support for force modernisation and operational readiness.
Implementation of the new force structure will take place in two phases. The first phase, involving the establishment of the 5, 9 and 10 Divisions alongside the reorganisation of existing formations, is scheduled for completion by September 2026. The second phase, which includes the establishment of the 83 Division in Benin City and additional restructuring, is expected to be concluded 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, dedication and commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to continue investing in the Armed Forces to ensure they remain well-equipped, highly motivated and capable of protecting lives, property and the nation’s territorial integrity.
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