President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions and authorised the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel in a major overhaul aimed at strengthening the country’s security architecture and improving the military’s operational effectiveness.
The approval, announced in a statement on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, is expected to enhance command and control, improve counter-insurgency operations and bolster internal security across the country.
Under the new force structure, the Army will establish four new divisions in Makurdi, Benin State (5 Division); Ilorin, Kwara State (9 Division); Jalingo, Taraba State (10 Division); and Benin City, Edo State (83 Division), bringing the total number of operational divisions from eight to 12.
The President said the restructuring reflects his administration’s commitment to strengthening the Armed Forces and equipping them to respond effectively to Nigeria’s evolving security threats.
“This 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,” the statement said.
According to the Presidency, the expansion builds on ongoing investments in the military, including the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, acquisition of critical military platforms and equipment, improvements in troop welfare, and continued support for operational readiness and force modernisation.
The new structure places the Army’s divisions across the country as follows: 1 Division, Kaduna; 2 Division, Ibadan; 3 Division, Jos; 5 Division, Makurdi; 6 Division, Port Harcourt; 7 Division, Maiduguri; 8 Division, Sokoto; 9 Division, Ilorin; 10 Division, Jalingo; 81 Division, Lagos; 82 Division, Enugu; and 83 Division, Benin City.
The Presidency said the newly created divisions would improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure and ensure faster military responses to emerging threats.
It added that the additional formations would also reinforce ongoing counter-insurgency and internal security operations across various theatres of operation.
Implementation of the new force structure will be carried out in two phases. The first phase, involving the establishment of the 5, 9 and 10 Divisions and the reorganisation of existing formations, is expected to be completed by September 2026, while the second phase, which includes 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 the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“The President reaffirmed his Administration’s determination to continue investing in the Armed Forces, ensuring they remain adequately equipped, highly motivated, and fully capable of protecting the nation and guaranteeing the safety and security of all Nigerians,” the statement added.
The expansion represents one of the most significant reorganisations of the Nigerian Army in recent years and is expected to enhance military presence across strategic regions while improving operational coordination in addressing terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence and other security challenges confronting the country.
