Tinubu Approves Expansion Of Nigerian Army To 12 Divisions, Orders Recruitment Of 28,000 Troops

 

By Abdulahi Musa 

President Bola Tinubu has approved a major expansion of the Nigerian Army, increasing its operational structure from eight to 12 divisions and authorising the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel as part of efforts to strengthen the country's security architecture amid persistent insecurity.

The approval was announced in a State House statement issued on Thursday by the President's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

According to the Presidency, the move is aimed at improving the Army's operational effectiveness, enhancing command and control, and strengthening Nigeria's capacity to respond to terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence and other security threats across the country.

The administration also said the expansion forms part of broader investments in the Armed Forces, including the acquisition of military equipment, improvements in troop welfare, force modernisation and support for operational readiness.

Under the new arrangement, the Nigerian Army will operate 12 divisions spread across the country. The new structure places division headquarters in Kaduna, Ibadan, Jos, Makurdi, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Ilorin, Jalingo, Lagos, Enugu and Benin City, with each division overseeing designated states.

The Presidency said four new divisions will be established in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City, arguing that the development will decentralise military operations, improve border security, protect critical national infrastructure and enable faster responses to emerging security threats.

Implementation will be carried out in two phases. The first phase, covering the establishment of the 5, 9 and 10 Divisions alongside the reorganisation of existing formations, is expected to be completed by September 2026. The second phase, which includes the creation of the 83 Division in Benin City and further restructuring, is scheduled for completion by December 2026.

President Tinubu also praised 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 professionalism and commitment to defending the country's territorial integrity.

The announcement comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with widespread insecurity in several regions, with insurgency in the North-East, bandit attacks in the North-West, violent clashes in the North-Central and rising cases of kidnapping across parts of the country posing significant security challenges. While the Presidency says the expansion will strengthen military operations, the effectiveness of the new structure will likely be measured by its impact on the country's worsening security situation.