President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a major restructuring of the Nigerian Army, expanding its formations from eight to twelve divisions and authorizing the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel to strengthen national security.
The approval was announced in a State House press release on Wednesday signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy.
According to the statement, the move is aimed at enhancing the Army’s operational effectiveness and improving Nigeria’s response to evolving security challenges.
“This 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 release said.
New Army Structure
Under the new structure, the Nigerian Army will operate 12 divisions strategically positioned across the country:
- 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 Presidency said the establishment of new Divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City will improve command and control, decentralize operational decision-making, strengthen border security, protect critical national infrastructure, and enable faster military response to emerging threats.
Implementation Timeline
The expansion will be implemented in two phases.
Phase 1, covering the establishment of 5, 9, and 10 Divisions and reorganization of existing formations, is to be completed by September 2026.
Phase 2, which includes the establishment of 83 Division and further reorganization, is expected to be completed by December 2026.
The expansion builds on the administration’s ongoing investments in the military, including the acquisition of critical platforms and equipment, improvements in troop welfare, and support for operational readiness and force modernization.
President Commends Troops
President Tinubu commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, and all officers and soldiers for their dedication and professionalism in defending Nigeria’s sovereignty.
He reaffirmed his administration’s determination to continue investing in the Armed Forces to ensure they remain “adequately equipped, highly motivated, and fully capable of protecting the nation and guaranteeing the safety and security of all Nigerians.”
