President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions and authorised the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel in a major overhaul aimed at strengthening national security and improving military operations across the country.
Key Highlights
President Tinubu approves expansion of the Nigerian Army from 8 to 12 divisions.
28,000 additional soldiers to be recruited to strengthen military capacity.
New divisions to be established in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City.
Reform to improve command structure, border security and counter-insurgency operations.
Implementation scheduled in two phases, ending in December 2026.
The approval, announced in a State House statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, underscores the administration’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture and enhancing the operational effectiveness of the Armed Forces.
According to the Presidency, the restructuring forms part of broader efforts to modernise the military through increased manpower, improved troop welfare, acquisition of critical military equipment and sustained investments in operational readiness.
Under the new force structure, the Nigerian Army will operate 12 divisions strategically located across the country:
1 Division – Kaduna (Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa)
2 Division – Ibadan (Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo)
3 Division – Jos (Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe)
5 Division – Makurdi (Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi)
6 Division – Port Harcourt (Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River)
7 Division – Maiduguri (Borno and Yobe)
8 Division – Sokoto (Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara)
9 Division – Ilorin (Kwara and Niger)
10 Division – Jalingo (Taraba and Adamawa)
81 Division – Lagos (Lagos and Ogun)
82 Division – Enugu (Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo)
83 Division – Benin City (Edo, Delta and Bayelsa)
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The Presidency said the establishment of the new divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City will decentralise military command, improve operational decision-making, strengthen border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure and ensure faster responses to security threats nationwide.
Implementation of the new force structure will be carried out in two phases. The first phase, covering the establishment of the 5, 9 and 10 Divisions and the reorganisation of existing formations, is expected to be completed by September 2026.
The second phase, which includes the establishment of the 83 Division in Benin City and additional organisational restructuring, is scheduled for completion by December 2026.
President Tinubu commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, and officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their professionalism, dedication and commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He reaffirmed his administration’s determination to continue investing in the Armed Forces to ensure they remain adequately equipped, highly motivated and capable of safeguarding the lives and property of Nigerians.
