President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions and the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel as part of efforts to strengthen national security and improve military operations across the country.
The approval is aimed at enhancing the Army’s operational effectiveness, improving command and control, decentralising decision-making, strengthening border security, protecting critical national infrastructure, and boosting counter-insurgency and internal security operations.
Under the new structure, four new divisions will be established in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo, and Benin City, while existing divisions will continue to cover other parts of the country.
The implementation 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. The second phase, which includes the establishment of the 83 Division and further reorganisation, is scheduled for completion by December 2026.
The expansion builds on the Tinubu administration’s investments in the Armed Forces, including troop recruitment, acquisition of military equipment, improvements in personnel welfare, and support for force modernisation.
President Tinubu also commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, as well as officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their commitment to defending the country’s sovereignty and pledged continued support to ensure the military remains well-equipped and capable of addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.