Okays recruitment of 28,000 personnel | New divisions bring number to 12 | Retired general, Lawan hail approval By Jonathan Nda-Isaiah and Tarkaa David, Samson Elijah, Abuja President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions, with four new divisions to be established in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City. He also authorised the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel in a major push to strengthen the country’s security architecture. According to a statement by Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, the approval underscores the President’s unwavering commitment to equipping the Armed Forces to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges effectively and further strengthen national defence capabilities. 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. Under the new structure, Onanuga said the Nigerian Army will operate 12 divisions, strategically positioned across the country as follows: 1 Division Headquarters – Kaduna (Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States) 2 Division Headquarters – Ibadan (Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States) 3 Division Headquarters – Jos (Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States) 5 Division Headquarters – Makurdi (Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States) 6 Division Headquarters – Port Harcourt (Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States) 7 Division Headquarters – Maiduguri (Borno and Yobe States) 8 Division Headquarters – Sokoto (Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States) 9 Division Headquarters – Ilorin (Kwara and Niger States) Others include: 10 Division Headquarters – Jalingo (Taraba and Adamawa States) 81 Division Headquarters – Lagos (Lagos and Ogun States) 82 Division Headquarters – Enugu (Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States) 83 Division Headquarters – Benin City (Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States). “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.” He explained that the implementation of the new force structure will be done in two phases. The first phase, covering the establishment of the 5, 9 and 10 Divisions and the reorganisation of existing formations, will be completed by September 2026. “The second phase, involving the establishment of the 83 Division and further reorganisation, is expected to be completed by December 2026,” Onanuga said. President Tinubu commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, and all officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their dedication, professionalism and steadfast commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The President reaffirmed his administration’s determination to continue investing in the Armed Forces, ensuring they remain adequately equipped, highly motivated and fully capable of protecting the nation and guaranteeing the safety and security of all Nigerians. Reacting to the development, security experts have welcomed the landmark decision, describing it as a long-overdue step that will improve the Army’s operational effectiveness, deepen its presence across the country and enhance its capacity to respond to evolving security threats. They, however, cautioned that the expansion must be backed by adequate funding, logistics, accommodation and other critical resources to achieve its intended objectives. A former director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman (rtd.), described the development as welcome, adding that it was long overdue. Though General Usman commended the government for the initiative, he, however, warned that adequate resources must accompany the approval as it is capital-intensive. “For instance, when you say 28,000 soldiers, that means you are providing accommodation for 28,000 soldiers. Let’s say you are giving them one wardroom, but you know it may be more than one wardroom.” He noted that, following the Army’s growing role in internal security, an increase in manpower had become necessary. “Generally, I think it’s a welcome development. We have to commend the President for taking such a bold step. This is long overdue.” Also reacting to the development, the Managing Director of Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited, Kabir Adamu, described the gesture as a positive development that would increase the military’s footprint across Nigeria. According to him, the 36 states of the federation need to be adequately covered, pa
Don't miss out on breaking stories and in-depth articles.
