By Augustine Martha, Abuja
Tinubu Approves Army Expansion, Creates Four New Divisions, Plans 28,000 Fresh Recruitment
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a major expansion of the Nigerian Army, increasing the number of divisions from eight to 12 and authorising the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel to strengthen Nigeria’s defence and security operations.
The development is part of the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to improve the capacity of the Armed Forces, enhance military response to emerging threats and boost counter-insurgency and internal security operations nationwide.
According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the restructuring reflects the administration’s commitment to providing the military with the manpower, resources and operational structure required to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
The Presidency said the expansion is supported by continued investments in military modernisation, including the acquisition of strategic equipment, improved welfare for troops and measures aimed at enhancing operational readiness.
Under the new arrangement, the Nigerian Army will now operate 12 strategically located divisions across the country, with the creation of four new formations in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City.
The new structure includes the establishment of the 5 Division Headquarters in Makurdi, responsible for Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states; 9 Division Headquarters in Ilorin, covering Kwara and Niger states; 10 Division Headquarters in Jalingo, overseeing Taraba and Adamawa states; and 83 Division Headquarters in Benin City, responsible for Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states.
Other existing formations retained under the new structure include the 1 Division in Kaduna, 2 Division in Ibadan, 3 Division in Jos, 6 Division in Port Harcourt, 7 Division in Maiduguri, 8 Division in Sokoto, 81 Division in Lagos and 82 Division in Enugu.
The Presidency explained that the restructuring would improve military coordination, decentralise command operations, strengthen border protection, safeguard critical national infrastructure and enable faster deployment of troops to areas facing security threats.
Implementation of the new structure will be carried out in two phases. The first phase, involving 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, which includes the creation of the 83 Division and additional 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 sacrifices and commitment to protecting Nigeria’s sovereignty.
He assured Nigerians that his administration would continue to prioritise investments in the Armed Forces to ensure they remain well-equipped, motivated and prepared to tackle the country’s security challenges.
Headline (Donblaze Media style):
Tinubu Rebuilds Army Structure, Creates 4 New Divisions, Adds 28,000 Personnel To Fight Insecurity
