President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a major expansion of the Nigerian Army, increasing its operational structure from eight to 12 divisions and authorising the recruitment of 28,000 additional military personnel in what is being described as one of the most significant reforms of the country’s armed forces in recent years.

The decision, announced by the Presidency, is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture, enhancing military readiness, improving operational effectiveness and enabling faster responses to evolving security threats across the country.

According to the Presidency, the expansion reflects President Tinubu’s commitment to building a modern, well-equipped and highly responsive military capable of tackling insurgency, banditry, terrorism, communal conflicts and other emerging security challenges.

The initiative also forms part of the administration’s broader investment in defence and national security, which includes the acquisition of critical military platforms and equipment, improvements in troop welfare, enhanced operational support and continued force modernisation.

Under the approved restructuring, the Nigerian Army will operate 12 divisions strategically located across the country to improve command, coordination and operational efficiency.

The divisions and their areas of responsibility are:

• 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 establishment of new divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City is expected to significantly enhance military command and control by decentralising operational decision-making and bringing troops closer to emerging security flashpoints.

The Presidency said the expansion will improve border security, strengthen the protection of critical national infrastructure, boost counter-insurgency and internal security operations, and enable quicker deployment of military assets during emergencies.

Security analysts have long argued that expanding the Army’s operational footprint is essential to addressing Nigeria’s diverse security threats, particularly in the North-East, North-West, North-Central and parts of the South-South.

The implementation of the new force structure will be carried out in two phases.

The first phase, which covers the establishment of the 5 Division (Makurdi), 9 Division (Ilorin), 10 Division (Jalingo) and the reorganisation of existing formations, is scheduled for completion by September 2026.

The second phase, involving the establishment of the 83 Division in Benin City and additional structural reorganisation, is expected to be completed by December 2026.

As part of the expansion programme, President Tinubu approved the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel to strengthen the Army’s manpower and improve its capacity to conduct simultaneous operations across multiple theatres.

The recruitment is expected to reinforce ongoing military operations against insurgents, bandits and other criminal groups while supporting the Army’s growing operational responsibilities nationwide.

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

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustained investment in the Armed Forces, stressing that a well-trained, adequately equipped and highly motivated military remains essential to safeguarding lives, securing the nation’s borders and creating a stable environment for economic growth and national development.

The latest expansion represents a significant milestone in the ongoing reform of Nigeria’s defence sector and underscores the Federal Government’s determination to enhance national security through increased military capacity, modernisation and strategic force deployment.