President Bola Tinubu on Thursday approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to twelve divisions alongside the recruitment of 28,000 new personnel in one of the boldest moves to combat decades of insecurity ravaging the country.
The sweeping changes aim to decentralise the nation’s security architecture and boost the military’s operational effectiveness.
Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on Information and Strategy, had announced in a statement that the president’s approval underscores his unwavering commitment to equipping the Armed Forces to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges effectively and to strengthen national defence capabilities further.
Security and public sector experts who spoke to BusinessDay believe that while the expansion is expected to build on the administration’s sustained investments in the Armed Forces, previous cases of poor funding, corruption and absence of strong welfare packages may serve as obstacles to desired results.
Auwal Ibrahim Rafsajani, executive director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy and Public Policy expert, however, called on the federal government to strengthen issues around the welfare of security operatives first.
Rafsajani, who believes that funding should not be a problem because of the recent approval of massive budgetary allocation of N1.504 trillion by the National Assembly, charged the government to tackle corruption in the system.
“The government had previously approved N500billion emergency security intervention fund to specifically support immediate military operations.
“President Tinubu also authorised the acquisition of new Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles and additional advanced armoured platforms to equip deployed troops. So, ordinarily, we should not have funding issues.
“I will say that many Nigerians, especially the youths who are currently without jobs, would have been excited to participate in the recruitment of new military personnel, but given the recent history of poor remuneration, poor welfare package and neglect of victims of the ongoing war against insurgents, I cannot boldly say that things will change.
“Many of our soldiers earn less than $100 per month. There are reports of some wounded soldiers being abandoned; the families of those who died at the war front do not get their entitlements on time.
He urged the President to go beyond words. “People want to see strong commitments; he must tackle corruption in the security sector before he can restore confidence in the system.
John Idode, a retired military officer, applauded the President’s action, describing it as ” the game changer.”
“We had long agitated for decentralisation of military operations to strengthen response mechanisms.
“You will see that, just like the plans for state policing, Nigeria will witness faster responses to issues of insecurity under the new arrangements.
Idode also joined others in the call for a better welfare package for security officials.
He assured Nigerians that the country will witness a stronger military presence under the new arrangements.
Under the new structure, the Nigerian Army will operate twelve divisions, strategically positioned across the country as follows:
The 1st Division, to be headquartered in Kaduna, will take charge of (Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States), the 2nd Division, headquartered in Ibadan, will oversee (Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States)
The 3rd Division, headquartered in Jos, is expected to oversee (Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States)
The 5th Division, with the headquarters in Makurdi, will cater for states including (Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States),
Also under the new arrangement, the 6th Division, which will be headquartered in Port Harcourt, will oversee the security situation in Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.
The 7th Division, with its headquarters in Maiduguri, will handle security activities in Borno and Yobe States.
The 8th Division has its headquarters in Sokoto and will tackle security in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States.
The 9th Division has its headquarters stationed in Ilorin and will take care of Kwara and Niger States.
The 10th Division, with its headquarters in Jalingo, Taraba State, will oversee Taraba and Adamawa States.
On the other hand, the 81 Division headquartered in Lagos will secure Lagos and Ogun States.
The 82 Division headquartered in Enugu will take care of Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States.
This is just as the 83 Division headquartered in Benin City will take care of Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States.
The statement noted that the establishment of the new divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City will 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.
According to the statement, implementation of the new force structure will be done in two phases, with the first phase covering the establishment of the 5, 9, and 10 Divisions, while the reorganisation of existing formations will be completed by September 2026
“The second phase, involving the establishment of the 83 Division and further reorganisation, is expected to be completed by December 2026.”
“President Tinubu commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, and all officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their dedication, professionalism, and steadfast commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The statement said the President also reaffirmed his administration’s determination to continue investing in the Armed Forces, ensuring they remain adequately equipped, highly motivated, and fully capable of protecting the nation and guaranteeing the safety and security of all Nigerians.
