President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigeria Army from eight to 12 divisions and authorised the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel in a major move aimed at strengthening the country’s security architecture and enhancing military operational effectiveness.
The approval, announced in a State House statement issued on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, forms part of the administration’s broader efforts to modernise the Armed Forces and improve their capacity to tackle Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
According to the statement, the expansion builds on the Federal Government’s sustained investments in the Nigeria military, including the acquisition of critical military platforms and equipment, improved troop welfare, enhanced operational readiness, and force modernisation.
Under the new structure, the Nigeria Army will operate 12 divisions strategically located across the country. Existing formations include 1 Division, Kaduna; 2 Division, Ibadan; 3 Division, Jos; 6 Division, Port Harcourt; 7 Division, Maiduguri; 8 Division, Sokoto; 81 Division, Lagos; and 82 Division, Enugu.
The newly approved formations are 5 Division, Makurdi; 9 Division, Ilorin; 10 Division, Jalingo; and 83 Division, Benin City.
The Presidency said the additional divisions would strengthen command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, improve border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure, boost counter-insurgency and internal security operations, and ensure faster military response to emerging security threats across the country.
Implementation of the new force structure will be carried out in two phases. The first phase, which includes 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 further reorganisation of formations, is expected to be completed by December 2026.
President Tinubu also commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, along with officers and soldiers of the Nigeria Army, for their professionalism, dedication, and commitment to defending the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustained investment in the Nigeria military to ensure it remains adequately equipped, highly motivated, and fully capable of safeguarding the country’s security and protecting all Nigerians.
