President Bola Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army’s structure from eight to 12 divisions as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s security architecture and improve operational effectiveness.
The approval was announced in a statement issued on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said the move reflects the administration’s commitment to enhancing the Armed Forces’ capacity to respond to evolving security challenges.
According to the statement, the expansion builds on the government’s investments in the military, including the approval of the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, the acquisition of military platforms and equipment, improvements in troop welfare, and continued support for operational readiness and force modernisation.
Under the new structure, the Nigerian Army’s 12 divisions will be headquartered in Kaduna, Ibadan, Jos, Makurdi, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Ilorin, Jalingo, Lagos, Enugu and Benin City, with each division responsible for designated states across the country.
Onanuga said the establishment of new divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City would improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure, bolster counter-insurgency and internal security operations, and enable faster responses to emerging threats.
He said implementation of the new force structure would be carried out in two phases. The first phase, which includes the establishment of the 5, 9 and 10 Divisions and the reorganisation of existing formations, is scheduled for completion by September 2026. The second phase, covering the establishment of the 83 Division and further reorganisation, is expected to be completed by December 2026.
The President also commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shuaibu, as well as officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army, for what he described as their dedication, professionalism and commitment to defending the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to continued investment in the Armed Forces to ensure they remain adequately equipped, well-motivated and capable of safeguarding the nation’s security, the statement added.
