President Bola Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions and authorised the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel in a major effort to strengthen the country’s security architecture and enhance the operational capacity of the Armed Forces.
The Presidency said the restructuring forms part of the administration’s broader investment in the military, which includes the acquisition of critical combat platforms and equipment, improvements in troop welfare, and sustained support for operational readiness and force modernisation.
In a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said the decision reflects Tinubu’s commitment to equipping the Armed Forces to tackle Nigeria’s evolving security challenges and reinforce the nation’s defence capabilities.
Under the new structure, the Nigerian Army will operate 12 divisions strategically located across the country. They include the 1 Division, Kaduna, covering Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states; 2 Division, Ibadan, serving Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo; 3 Division, Jos, covering Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe; the newly established 5 Division, Makurdi, for Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi; 6 Division, Port Harcourt, covering Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River; and 7 Division, Maiduguri, serving Borno and Yobe.
Others are 8 Division, Sokoto, covering Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara; the new 9 Division, Ilorin, serving Kwara and Niger; the new 10 Division, Jalingo, covering Taraba and Adamawa; 81 Division, Lagos, covering Lagos and Ogun; 82 Division, Enugu, serving Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo; and the newly created 83 Division, Benin City, covering Edo, Delta and Bayelsa.
According to the Presidency, the establishment of the new divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City will improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure, bolster counter-insurgency and internal security operations, and ensure quicker military responses to emerging threats across the country.
The implementation of the new force structure will be carried out in two phases. The first phase, comprising the establishment of the 5, 9 and 10 divisions alongside the reorganisation of existing formations, is expected to be completed by September 2026. The second phase, which includes the establishment of the 83 Division and further restructuring, is scheduled for completion by December 2026.
President Tinubu also praised the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shuaibu, as well as officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army, for what he described as their professionalism, dedication and unwavering commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to continue investing in the Armed Forces to ensure they remain well-equipped, highly motivated and fully prepared to defend the nation and guarantee the safety and security of all Nigerians.
