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, in what the Presidency described as a major step towards strengthening the country’s security architecture.
The approval was announced in a State House press release on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
“The 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.
According to the Presidency, the expansion reflects Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s defence capabilities through increased manpower, improved force structure, enhanced troop welfare and sustained investments in military modernisation. The decision builds on the administration’s ongoing investments in the Armed Forces, including the recruitment drive, procurement of critical military platforms, and continued support for operational readiness.
Under the new force structure, the Army will comprise 12 divisions headquartered in Kaduna, Ibadan, Jos, Makurdi, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Ilorin, Jalingo, Lagos, Enugu and Benin City, each responsible for designated states within its operational area. Four new divisions — in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City — will be created as part of the restructuring.
“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,” the Presidency stated.
Implementation will proceed in two phases. The first — covering the new 5 Division in Makurdi, 9 Division in Ilorin, and 10 Division in Jalingo, alongside reorganisation of existing formations — is billed for completion by September 2026. The second phase, involving the new 83 Division in Benin City and further restructuring, is expected to be completed by December 2026.
Tinubu commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, and the 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,” the statement added.
The expansion comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, kidnapping across several regions, separatist-related violence in the South-East, and attacks on critical national infrastructure. The Federal Government believes the enlarged force structure will improve operational efficiency and enable faster troop deployment to emerging security flashpoints nationwide.
New Nigerian Army Division Structure:
- 1 Division – Kaduna (Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa)
- 2 Division – Ibadan (Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo)
- 3 Division – Jos (Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe)
- 5 Division – Makurdi (Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi)
- 6 Division – Port Harcourt (Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River)
- 7 Division – Maiduguri (Borno, Yobe)
- 8 Division – Sokoto (Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara)
- 9 Division – Ilorin (Kwara, Niger)
- 10 Division – Jalingo (Taraba, Adamawa)
- 81 Division – Lagos (Lagos, Ogun)
- 82 Division – Enugu (Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi, Imo)
- 83 Division – Benin City (Edo, Delta, Bayelsa)
