BREAKING: Tinubu Approves Expansion of Nigerian Army to 12 Divisions, Orders Recruitment of 28,000 Personnel
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to twelve divisions and authorised the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture and improve the military’s operational effectiveness.
The approval, announced in a State House press release on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, is aimed at enhancing the Armed Forces’ capacity to tackle evolving security threats and reinforce national defence.
According to the statement, the expansion is part of the Tinubu administration’s sustained investments in the Armed Forces, which also include the acquisition of critical military platforms and equipment, improved troop welfare, and continued support for operational readiness and force modernisation.
Under the new structure, the Nigerian Army will operate 12 divisions strategically located across the country. The existing 8 Division Headquarters in Sokoto will continue to oversee military operations in Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara states, while four new divisions will be established in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo, and Benin City.
The Presidency said the additional divisions are expected to improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, protect critical national infrastructure, enhance counter-insurgency operations, and ensure faster military responses to emerging security threats.
Implementation of the new force structure will be carried out in two phases. The first phase, involving the establishment of the 5, 9, and 10 Divisions and the reorganisation of existing formations, is scheduled for completion by September 2026.
The second phase, which includes the establishment of the 83 Division in Benin City, is expected to be completed by December 2026.
President Tinubu also commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, alongside officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their professionalism and commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty.
He reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to continue investing in the Armed Forces to ensure they remain well-equipped, highly motivated, and capable of safeguarding the nation’s territorial integrity and the security of all Nigerians.
