Breaking: Tinubu expands Nigerian Army to 12 Divisions, approves recruitment of 28,000 personnel

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a major expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to twelve divisions and authorised the recruitment of an additional 28,000 personnel in what is regarded as one of the most significant military restructuring initiatives in recent years aimed at strengthening national security and enhancing the country’s defence capabilities.

The approval, announced on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, is expected to improve the Army’s operational effectiveness, decentralise command structures and enable quicker responses to security threats across the federation.

The expansion forms part of the Tinubu administration’s broader efforts to reinforce Nigeria’s security architecture through sustained investments in personnel, equipment, troop welfare and force modernisation.

According to the Presidency, the new structure will see the Nigerian Army operate twelve divisions strategically located across the country to improve command and control as well as operational efficiency.

Under the approved arrangement, the 1 Division will remain headquartered in Kaduna with responsibility for Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states, while the 2 Division in Ibadan will oversee Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states.

The 3 Division in Jos will cover Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states, while the newly established 5 Division in Makurdi will have responsibility for Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states.

The 6 Division in Port Harcourt will continue to oversee Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, while the 7 Division in Maiduguri will remain responsible for Borno and Yobe states.

Similarly, the 8 Division in Sokoto will supervise Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states, while the newly created 9 Division in Ilorin will cover Kwara and Niger states.

The new 10 Division headquartered in Jalingo will oversee Taraba and Adamawa states.

The existing 81 Division in Lagos will continue to cover Lagos and Ogun states, while the 82 Division in Enugu will supervise Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo states.

A new 83 Division will also be established in Benin City with responsibility for Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states.

The Presidency said the creation of the four new divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City is expected to significantly strengthen command and control, decentralise operational decision-making and improve the military’s ability to respond swiftly to emerging security challenges.

It said that the new formations would also enhance border security, improve the protection of critical national infrastructure, reinforce counter-insurgency and internal security operations, and increase the overall effectiveness of military deployments nationwide.

As part of the broader security reforms, President Tinubu also approved the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel into the Nigerian Army to strengthen manpower and support expanding operational commitments.

The recruitment complements the administration’s ongoing acquisition of critical military platforms and equipment, improvements in troop welfare and sustained support for operational readiness and force modernisation across the Armed Forces.

The implementation of the new force structure will be carried out in two phases.

According to the Presidency, 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 and additional restructuring of Army formations, 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 their professionalism, dedication and commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the Armed Forces through sustained investments that would ensure they remain adequately equipped, highly motivated and fully prepared to safeguard the nation’s security and protect the lives and property of Nigerians.