Tinubu Approves Expansion of Nigerian Army to 12 Division
…As New divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo, and Benin City to strengthen command and operational efficiency
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to twelve divisions as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s security architecture and improve the military’s operational effectiveness.
The approval, announced in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, also includes the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel to boost the Army’s manpower and enhance its capacity to tackle Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
According to the statement, the expanded force structure will see the Army operate twelve divisions strategically located across the country. Existing headquarters will remain in Kaduna, Ibadan, Jos, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Lagos and Enugu, while four new divisions will be established in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City.
The Presidency said the new 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 quicker military response to emerging security threats nationwide.
Implementation of the new 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 expected to be completed by September 2026, while the second phase, which includes the establishment of the 83 Division, is scheduled for completion by December 2026.
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 dedication and professionalism.
He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to investing in the Armed Forces through improved troop welfare, acquisition of modern military equipment and sustained support for operational readiness to safeguard Nigeria’s sovereignty and the security of its citizens.
