President Bola Tinubu has approved what is being described as Nigeria’s most significant military expansion in recent decades, authorising the Nigerian Army to grow from eight to 12 divisions alongside the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel. The move is aimed at strengthening the country’s response to persistent security challenges.
According to the Presidency, the expansion forms part of a broader effort to modernise the Armed Forces through increased manpower, improved troop welfare, enhanced operational readiness, and the acquisition of critical military equipment. The government says the reforms are intended to improve the military’s capacity to combat insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence, and other security threats across the country.
Under the new structure, four additional divisions will be established in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo, and Benin City. The first phase, covering the creation of the 5th, 9th, and 10th Divisions, is expected to be completed by September 2026, while the second phase, including the establishment of the 83rd Division, is scheduled for completion by December 2026.
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said the expansion would improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure, and enable faster military responses to emerging threats nationwide.
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. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring the Armed Forces remain adequately equipped and prepared to safeguard Nigeria’s sovereignty and protect its citizens.