President Bola Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions and the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture and improve military operational effectiveness.
The approval was disclosed on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said the move reflects the administration’s commitment to addressing the country’s evolving security challenges and enhancing national defence capabilities.
According to Onanuga, the expansion forms part of broader investments by the Federal Government in the Armed Forces, including personnel recruitment, acquisition of military platforms and equipment, troop welfare improvements and ongoing force modernisation initiatives.
“The expansion 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 statement read.
Under the new structure, the Nigerian Army will operate 12 divisions strategically located across the country. The Presidency noted that the establishment of new divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City would improve military coordination, decentralise operational decision-making and enhance rapid response capabilities.
According to the statement, the new formations are expected to strengthen border security, improve the protection of critical national infrastructure, bolster counter-insurgency operations and enhance responses to emerging security threats nationwide.
The restructuring will be implemented in two phases. The first phase, which includes 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 restructuring, is scheduled for completion by December 2026.
President Tinubu also commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, as well as officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their dedication and service to the nation.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring that the Armed Forces remain adequately equipped, highly motivated and capable of safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial integrity and protecting citizens.
