President Bola Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions and the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel to strengthen the country’s security architecture.
The move, according to the presidency, is aimed at improving the operational effectiveness of the army and enhancing its capacity to respond to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday titled.
Onanuga said 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.”
The expansion is part of the administration’s broader investment in the military, including the recruitment of additional personnel, acquisition of military platforms and equipment, improved troop welfare, and support for force modernization.
“The expansion builds on the administration’s sustained investments in the Armed Forces, including approval for the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, acquisition of critical military platforms and equipment, improvements in troop welfare, and ongoing support for operational readiness and force modernization,” the statement read.
Under the new structure, the Nigerian Army will operate 12 divisions strategically positioned across the country.
The Presidency said the creation of the new divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City would improve military coordination and response time.
“The establishment of the new divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City will significantly improve command and control, decentralize 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,” Onanuga stated.
The implementation of the restructuring will be carried out in two phases.
The first phase, which covers the establishment of the 5, 9, and 10 Divisions and the reorganization of existing formations, is expected to be completed by September 2026.
The second phase, involving the establishment of the 83rd Division and further reorganization, will be completed by December 2026.
Tinubu also commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, and officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their dedication and commitment to defending the nation.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to continue investing in the Armed Forces to ensure they remain “adequately equipped, highly motivated, and fully capable of protecting the nation and guaranteeing the safety and security of all Nigerians.”
