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 to strengthen the country’s security framework
The approval was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the Presidency, the move is intended to boost the Army’s operational capacity and improve its response to the nation’s growing security challenges.
“This approval 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,” the statement said.
The Presidency noted that the expansion is part of the administration’s broader efforts to strengthen the military through the recruitment of 28,000 personnel, procurement of modern military equipment, improved welfare for troops and continued force modernisation.
With the approval, the Nigerian Army will increase its divisions from eight to 12, with four new divisions to be established in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City.
The statement added that the new divisions 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.”
Implementation will take place in two phases. The first phase, which includes the establishment of the 5, 9 and 10 Divisions alongside the reorganisation of existing formations, is expected to be completed by September 2026. The second phase will involve the creation of the 83 Division and additional restructuring, with completion targeted for December 2026.
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