President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the creation of four additional divisions for the Nigerian Army and authorised the recruitment of 28,000 new personnel as part of a major overhaul aimed at strengthening the country’s security architecture.
The approval was announced on Thursday in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. According to the Presidency, the initiative is designed to boost the operational capacity of the Nigerian Army, improve military readiness and enhance its ability to address the country’s evolving security challenges.
The expansion will increase the Army’s divisions from eight to 12, while also prioritising improved troop welfare, acquisition of modern military equipment and enhanced operational effectiveness.
Under the new structure, the Army will retain its existing divisions 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 additional formations would strengthen command and control, improve border security, protect critical national infrastructure and reinforce counter-insurgency as well as other internal security operations. It added that the expanded command structure would enable faster military responses to security threats across the country.
Implementation of the restructuring will take place in two phases. The first phase, expected to be completed by September 2026, will include the establishment of the 5 Division in Makurdi, the 9 Division in Ilorin and the 10 Division in Jalingo, alongside the reorganisation of existing formations. The second phase, scheduled for completion by December 2026, will see the creation of the 83 Division in Benin City and the completion of the remaining restructuring efforts.
President Tinubu said the expansion underscores his administration’s commitment to building a stronger and more responsive Armed Forces capable of safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty and addressing emerging security threats.
He also commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, as well as officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their dedication, professionalism and unwavering service to the nation, while reaffirming his administration’s commitment to ensuring the military remains adequately equipped, highly motivated and fully prepared to protect the lives and property of Nigerians.
