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 as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture and enhance 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 aimed at improving the Armed Forces’ capacity to address the country’s evolving security challenges and reinforce national defence.
According to the statement, the expansion is part of the administration’s broader investment in the Armed Forces, which includes the acquisition of critical military platforms and equipment, improvements in troop welfare, and sustained support for operational readiness and force modernisation.
Under the new structure, the Nigerian Army will operate 12 divisions strategically located across the country. The existing divisions include the 1 Division in Kaduna, 2 Division in Ibadan, 3 Division in Jos, 6 Division in Port Harcourt, 7 Division in Maiduguri, 8 Division in Sokoto, 81 Division in Lagos and 82 Division in Enugu.
Four new divisions will be established in Makurdi (5 Division), Ilorin (9 Division), Jalingo (10 Division) and Benin City (83 Division), bringing the total number of divisions to 12.
The statement said the new formations would 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 quicker military responses to emerging threats across the country.
The 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, which includes the establishment of the 83 Division and additional reorganisation, 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 what he described as their dedication, professionalism and commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to continued investment in the Armed Forces to ensure they remain adequately equipped, highly motivated and capable of safeguarding the nation’s security.
