Tinubu approves four new divisions for Nigerian Army, recruitment of 28,000 personnel

By Ayorinde Oluokun

In a major push to tackle insecurity in the country, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army’s structure from eight to 12 divisions and recruitment of additional 28,000 personnel.

Under the restructuring, new Divisions of Nigerian Army will be established with Headquarters in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City.

The presidency said establishment of the new divisions will significantly improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure, improve counterinsurgency and internal security operations, and ensure faster military response to emerging threats nationwide.

The landmark move to enhance the country’s security architecture and improve the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army was announced in a statement by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga on Thursday.

According to the statement, 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 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,” Onanuga said in the statement.

Giving further in information of the major push against insecurity by the President, Onanuga said under the new structure, the Nigerian Army will operate twelve divisions, strategically positioned across the country

Division one of the Nigerian Army with headquarters in Kaduna will cover Kaduna Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States, while division two with headquarters in Ibadan will cover Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States.

Also, division three with its headquarters in Jos will cover Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States while Division four with headquarters in Makurdi will cover Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States. T

The headquarters 6 Division will be in Port Harcourt with Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States as its coverage areas, while the 7 Division with Headquarters in Maiduguri covers Borno and Yobe States.

The 8 Division will have its Headquarters in Sokoto with Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States as its coverage areas while the 9 Division with Headquarters in Ilorin would have responsibilities for Kwara and Niger States.

The Headquarters of the 10 Division will be Jalingo with its areas of responsibility as Taraba and Adamawa States just as the 81 Division Headquarters is in Lagos with Lagos and Ogun States as its coverage areas.

Also, the 82 Division Headquarters with Headquarters in Enugu will cover Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States while the 83 Division with Headquarters Benin City will cover Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States.

The presidency said in the statement that implementation of the new structure of the Nigerian Army 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”

The statement also quoted President Tinubu as commending 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,” the statement said.