Tinubu approves expansion of Nigerian Army to 12 divisions, recruits 28,000 personnel
President Bola Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions. The approval was announced in a statement issued on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, the decision is aimed at improving the Army’s ability to tackle Nigeria’s evolving security challenges, strengthen national defence and enhance operational effectiveness. The Presidency said the expansion forms part of the Tinubu administration’s continued investment in the Armed Forces, which includes the recruitment of 28,000 additional military personnel, the acquisition of critical military equipment, improved welfare for troops and support for force modernisation.
“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.
Under the new structure, the Nigerian Army will operate 12 divisions strategically located across the country. The new formations will be established in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City, while existing divisions in Kaduna, Ibadan, Jos, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Lagos and Enugu will continue to oversee their designated operational areas.
The Presidency said the new divisions would “significantly 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 faster military response to emerging threats nationwide.”
The implementation of the new force structure will take place in two phases. According to the statement, the first phase, which includes the establishment of the 5, 9 and 10 Divisions as well as the reorganisation of existing formations, is expected to be completed by September 2026. The second phase, involving the establishment of the 83 Division in Benin City and additional reorganisation, is scheduled for completion by December 2026.
President Tinubu also commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, alongside officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for what he described as their “dedication, professionalism, and steadfast commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting the Armed Forces, saying the government would continue investing in the military to ensure it remains “adequately equipped, highly motivated, and fully capable of protecting the nation and guaranteeing the safety and security of all Nigerians.”
