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.
The approval was announced in a State House press release issued on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said the move is designed to strengthen the country’s security framework and improve the Army’s operational capability.
The new structure will introduce divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City, bringing the Nigerian Army’s formations to 12 across the federation. The government also approved the recruitment of 28,000 personnel as part of wider efforts that include the acquisition of military platforms and equipment, better troop welfare and sustained support for operational preparedness.
Under the arrangement, the Army’s divisions will be headquartered in Kaduna, Ibadan, Jos, Makurdi, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Ilorin, Jalingo, Lagos, Enugu and Benin City, with each formation overseeing designated states across the country.
The Presidency said the additional divisions are expected to improve command and control, decentralise operational decision making, strengthen border security, protect critical national infrastructure, support counter-insurgency operations, reinforce internal security duties and enable faster military response to emerging threats.
The implementation will take place in two stages. The first phase, covering 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, is scheduled for completion by September 2026. The second phase, which includes the establishment of the 83 Division in Benin City and further restructuring, is expected to be completed by December 2026.
The Presidency said the approval reflects Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening the Armed Forces and expanding their capacity to address security challenges across the country. It added that the President also praised 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 commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The President also reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to continue supporting the Armed Forces through sustained investment aimed at ensuring they remain adequately equipped, highly motivated and capable of protecting the nation and safeguarding Nigerians.