By Olayemi Esan
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a major expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to twelve divisions, alongside the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, in a landmark move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture and enhancing the military’s operational effectiveness.
The announcement was made in a statement on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said the approval reflects the administration’s commitment to equipping the Armed Forces to effectively tackle the country’s evolving security challenges.
According to the statement, the expansion is part of the Federal Government’s sustained investment in the Armed Forces, which includes the acquisition of critical military platforms and equipment, improved troop welfare, enhanced operational readiness, and continued force modernisation.
Under the newly approved structure, the Nigerian Army will operate 12 divisions strategically positioned across the country to improve command efficiency and operational coverage.
The divisions are headquartered as follows:
- 1 Division – Kaduna (Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States)
- 2 Division – Ibadan (Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States)
- 3 Division – Jos (Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States)
- 5 Division – Makurdi (Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States)
- 6 Division – Port Harcourt (Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States)
- 7 Division – Maiduguri (Borno and Yobe States)
- 8 Division – Sokoto (Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States)
- 9 Division – Ilorin (Kwara and Niger States)
- 10 Division – Jalingo (Taraba and Adamawa States)
- 81 Division – Lagos (Lagos and Ogun States)
- 82 Division – Enugu (Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States)
- 83 Division – Benin City (Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States)
According to the Presidency, the establishment of the new divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City is expected to significantly strengthen command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, improve border security, protect critical national infrastructure, enhance counter-insurgency and internal security operations, and enable faster 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, as well as the reorganisation of existing formations, is scheduled for completion by September 2026. The second phase, involving the establishment of the 83 Division and additional restructuring, is expected to be completed by December 2026.
President Tinubu commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, and officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their dedication, professionalism and unwavering commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to continue investing in the Armed Forces to ensure they remain adequately equipped, highly motivated and fully prepared to safeguard the nation and protect the lives and property of all Nigerians.
The approval marks one of the most significant structural reforms of the Nigerian Army in recent years and is expected to bolster the country’s capacity to respond more effectively to terrorism, banditry, insurgency, kidnapping and other emerging security threats across the federation.
