A retired Nigerian Air Force spokesman, Group Captain Sadeeq Shehu, has urged the Federal Government to address manpower and equipment shortages in existing Nigerian Army formations before creating four additional divisions.
Shehu spoke on Monday, July 27, 2026, during an interview on ARISE NEWS, three days after President Bola Tinubu approved the expansion of the Army from eight to 12 divisions.
The new divisions will be established in Makurdi, Benue State; Ilorin, Kwara State; Jalingo, Taraba State; and Benin City, Edo State. The plan also includes the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel to strengthen military operations and security coverage.
Shehu acknowledged the need for a larger military force given Nigeria’s size, population and security challenges.
He, however, said the government should first assess the operational readiness of the existing eight divisions and address gaps in personnel, equipment and logistics.
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He also raised concerns over the prolonged deployment of troops in conflict zones, saying the military was already overstretched in some areas.
According to him, a military formation can only function effectively when its manpower and equipment match its operational responsibilities.
Shehu warned that creating new divisions without adequately resourcing existing formations could undermine the expansion and further strain available resources.
He also cautioned against allowing political considerations to determine the creation or location of military formations, insisting that strategic and operational needs should guide such decisions.
The planned expansion comes as the Federal Government seeks to boost military manpower and strengthen the Army’s response to Nigeria’s persistent security challenges.