President Bola Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security system.
The President also approved the recruitment of 28,000 additional soldiers to boost the Army’s manpower and improve its ability to tackle the country’s growing security challenges.
According to the Presidency, the decision is expected to enhance the Army’s operational capacity and improve its response to the changing security situation across the country.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced the development in a statement issued on Thursday.
Onanuga said the 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 expansion is part of the administration’s broader investment in the military, including the recruitment of additional personnel, acquisition of military platforms and equipment, improved troop welfare and support for force modernisation.
“The expansion builds on the administration’s sustained investments in the Armed Forces, including approval for the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, acquisition of critical military platforms and equipment, improvements in troop welfare, and ongoing support for operational readiness and force modernisation,” the statement read.
Under the new structure, the Nigerian Army will operate 12 divisions strategically positioned across the country.
The Presidency said the creation of the new divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City would improve military coordination and response time.
“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,” Onanuga stated.
The implementation of the restructuring will be carried out in two phases.
The first phase, which covers 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, involving the establishment of the 83 Division and further reorganisation, will be completed by December 2026.
Tinubu also commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, and officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their dedication and commitment to defending the nation.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to continue investing in the Armed Forces to ensure they remain “adequately equipped, highly motivated, and fully capable of protecting the nation and guaranteeing the safety and security of all Nigerians.”
The divisions and their areas of responsibility are:
1 Division Headquarters in Kaduna, covering Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states;
2 Division Headquarters in Ibadan, covering Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states;
3 Division Headquarters in Jos, covering Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states;
4 Division Headquarters in Makurdi, covering Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states;
5 Division Headquarters in Port Harcourt, covering Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states;
6 Division Headquarters in Maiduguri, covering Borno and Yobe states;
7 Division Headquarters in Sokoto, covering Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states;
8 Division Headquarters in Ilorin, covering Kwara and Niger states;
9 Division Headquarters in Jalingo, covering Taraba and Adamawa states;
81 Division Headquarters in Lagos, covering Lagos and Ogun states;
82 Division Headquarters in Enugu, covering Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo states; and
83 Division Headquarters in Benin City, covering Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states.
