President Bola Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions, alongside the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel to strengthen the country’s security operations.
The Presidency said the initiative is aimed at decentralising military command, improving border security and enabling quicker responses to emerging security threats across the country.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, it was disclosed that four new divisional headquarters will be established in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City.
Under the new structure, 1 Division will remain in Kaduna, covering Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states, while 2 Division in Ibadan will oversee Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states. 3 Division in Jos will cover Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states, and the new 5 Division in Makurdi will be responsible for Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states.
The existing 6 Division in Port Harcourt will continue to cover Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, while 7 Division in Maiduguri will oversee Borno and Yobe. 8 Division in Sokoto will retain responsibility for Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
The new 9 Division in Ilorin will supervise Kwara and Niger states, while 10 Division in Jalingo will cover Taraba and Adamawa states.
The existing 81 Division in Lagos will continue to oversee Lagos and Ogun states, 82 Division in Enugu will cover Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo states, while the newly created 83 Division in Benin City will be responsible for Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states.
According to the Presidency, the additional divisional commands are expected to improve command and control, enhance counter-insurgency and internal security operations, strengthen border surveillance and speed up military responses to security challenges.
The implementation will be carried out in two phases. The first phase, which includes the establishment of the 5th, 9th and 10th Divisions and the reorganisation of existing formations, is expected to be completed by September 2026. The second phase, covering the creation of the 83rd Division and further restructuring, is scheduled for completion by December 2026.
The Presidency said the expansion is supported by the recruitment of 28,000 new personnel and forms part of broader investments in the Armed Forces, including the acquisition of military equipment, improved troop welfare and enhanced operational readiness.
President Tinubu also commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, as well as officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their dedication and professionalism, while reaffirming his administration’s commitment to ensuring the Armed Forces remain well-equipped and capable of safeguarding the nation.
