President Bola Tinubu has approved a major restructuring of the Nigerian Army with the creation of four additional divisions and the recruitment of 28,000 new personnel as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s security and defence capabilities.
The approval increases the Army’s operational divisions from eight to 12, a move the Presidency said would improve military efficiency, decentralise command structures and enhance rapid response to security threats across the country.
The development was announced on Thursday in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to Onanuga, the approval reflects the administration’s determination to reinforce the nation’s security architecture and equip the Armed Forces to confront emerging threats more effectively.
He said the decision “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 Presidency explained that the expansion forms part of broader military reforms already being implemented by the Tinubu administration, including increased manpower, improved welfare packages, acquisition of advanced military hardware and sustained investment in operational readiness.
The statement added, “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.”
As part of the restructuring, four new divisional headquarters will be established in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City to enhance command and operational effectiveness in their respective areas of responsibility.
According to the Presidency, the new formations are expected to improve military coordination, strengthen border security and accelerate responses to internal security threats.
Onanuga stated, “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 implementation of the new structure will be executed in two phases.
The first phase, which includes the establishment of the 5, 9 and 10 Divisions alongside the reorganisation of existing formations, is scheduled for completion by September 2026.
The second phase will culminate in the establishment of the 83 Division and additional restructuring by December 2026.
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 to safeguarding the nation’s territorial integrity.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring the military remains “adequately equipped, highly motivated, and fully capable of protecting the nation and guaranteeing the safety and security of all Nigerians.”
Under the new structure, the Nigerian Army’s divisions and areas of responsibility are as follows:
– 1 Division, Kaduna: Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states.
– 2 Division, Ibadan: Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states.
– 3 Division, Jos: Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states.
– 5 Division, Makurdi: Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states.
– 6 Division, Port Harcourt: Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.
– 7 Division, Maiduguri: Borno and Yobe states.
– 8 Division, Sokoto: Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
– 9 Division, Ilorin: Kwara and Niger states.
– 10 Division, Jalingo: Taraba and Adamawa states.
– 81 Division, Lagos: Lagos and Ogun states.
– 82 Division, Enugu: Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo states.
– 83 Division, Benin City: Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states.
The expansion represents one of the most significant reorganisations of the Nigerian Army in recent years and is expected to boost military presence across key regions while strengthening the country’s response to insurgency, banditry, terrorism and other security challenges.
(Ripples)