President Bola Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to twelve divisions and the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, in the most significant restructuring of the country’s military architecture in years.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced the development in a statement on Thursday, July 23, saying the decision reflects the administration’s commitment to addressing Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
“The expansion underscores the President’s unwavering commitment to equipping the Armed Forces to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges effectively and to strengthen national defence capabilities further,” Onanuga said.
The restructuring is part of a broader investment in the military that includes the acquisition of new platforms and equipment, improvements in troop welfare, and support for force modernisation.
“The expansion builds on the administration’s sustained investments in the Armed Forces, including approval for the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, acquisition of critical military platforms and equipment, improvements in troop welfare, and ongoing support for operational readiness and force modernisation,” the statement read.
Four new division headquarters will be established in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo, and Benin City, bringing the total number of divisions from eight to twelve.
“The establishment of the new Divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City will significantly improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure, improve counter-insurgency and internal security operations, and ensure faster military response to emerging threats nationwide,” Onanuga stated.
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The restructuring will be implemented in two phases. The first phase, covering the establishment of the 5th, 9th, and 10th Divisions and the reorganisation of existing formations, is expected to be completed by September 2026.
The second phase, involving the establishment of the 83rd Division and further reorganisation, is scheduled for completion by December 2026.
Under the new structure, the twelve divisions and their areas of responsibility are as follows: the 1st Division in Kaduna covering Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa states; the 2nd Division in Ibadan covering Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo states; the 3rd Division in Jos covering Plateau, Bauchi, and Gombe states.
The 5th Division in Makurdi covering Benue, Nasarawa, and Kogi states; the 6th Division in Port Harcourt covering Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states; the 7th Division in Maiduguri covering Borno and Yobe states; the 8th Division in Sokoto covering Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara states; the 9th Division in Ilorin covering Kwara and Niger states; the 10th Division in Jalingo covering Taraba and Adamawa states.
The 81st Division in Lagos covering Lagos and Ogun states; the 82nd Division in Enugu covering Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi, and Imo states; and the 83rd Division in Benin City covering Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa states.
Tinubu commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, and the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their dedication and commitment to defending the nation.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to continue investing in the Armed Forces to ensure they remain “adequately equipped, highly motivated, and fully capable of protecting the nation and guaranteeing the safety and security of all Nigerians.”