Tinubu Approves Expansion of Nigerian Army to 12 Divisions, Orders Recruitment of 28,000 Personnel

Reported by Fact Harbour News

ABUJA – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has approved a major expansion of the Nigerian Army, increasing its operational structure from eight to twelve divisions as part of efforts to strengthen the nation’s security architecture and improve military effectiveness across the country.

The approval, announced in a State House statement issued on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, is expected to significantly enhance the Army’s operational capacity in tackling insurgency, banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and other emerging security threats.

As part of the initiative, President Tinubu also approved the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel into the Nigerian Army to boost manpower and support ongoing military operations nationwide.

According to the Presidency, the expansion forms part of the administration’s broader commitment to modernising the Armed Forces through sustained investment in personnel, acquisition of advanced military platforms and equipment, improved troop welfare and enhanced operational readiness.

Under the new structure, the Nigerian Army will operate twelve divisions strategically distributed across the country’s six geopolitical zones to improve command efficiency and rapid response capabilities.

The divisions are as follows:

• 1 Division Headquarters – Kaduna: Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States.
• 2 Division Headquarters – Ibadan: Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States.
• 3 Division Headquarters – Jos: Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States.
• 5 Division Headquarters – Makurdi: Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States.
• 6 Division Headquarters – Port Harcourt: Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.
• 7 Division Headquarters – Maiduguri: Borno and Yobe States.
• 8 Division Headquarters – Sokoto: Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States.
• 9 Division Headquarters – Ilorin: Kwara and Niger States.
• 10 Division Headquarters – Jalingo: Taraba and Adamawa States.
• 81 Division Headquarters – Lagos: Lagos and Ogun States.
• 82 Division Headquarters – Enugu: Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States.
• 83 Division Headquarters – Benin City: Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States.

The Presidency explained that the creation of the new divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City is expected to improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure and improve the military’s ability to respond swiftly to security threats across the country.

It added that the restructuring would also reinforce counter-insurgency operations and other internal security missions by positioning military formations closer to areas requiring rapid intervention.

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 restructuring, is expected to be completed by December 2026.

President Tinubu commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, alongside officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their professionalism, dedication and unwavering commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the Armed Forces through sustained investment in manpower, equipment, welfare and capacity building, assuring Nigerians that the government remains determined to ensure the military is adequately equipped and fully prepared to safeguard lives, protect national assets and preserve the country’s unity.

The announcement marks one of the most significant structural reforms of the Nigerian Army in recent years and is expected to play a key role in the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to enhance national security and improve the effectiveness of military operations across the federation.