President Bola Tinubu has restructured the Nigerian Army, approving its expansion from eight to twelve divisions to enhance national security.
This was as the president also approved the recruitment of 28,000 personnel as part of the efforts to improve the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army.
The approval was contained in a State House Press Release by the Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday.
The approval, it was stated, underscored the president’s commitment to equipping the Armed Forces to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges effectively and to strengthen national defence capabilities further.
Reason for increasing the Nigerian Army Divisions
“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,” it was stated in the release.
Under the new structure, the Nigerian Army will operate twelve divisions, strategically positioned across the country as follows: 1 Division Headquarters –Kaduna (Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states);
2 Division Headquarters –Ibadan (Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states); 3 Division Headquarters –Jos (Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states); 5 Division Headquarters – Makurdi (Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states);
6 Division Headquarters –Port Harcourt (Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states); 7 Division Headquarters –Maiduguri (Borno and Yobe states);
8 Division Headquarters –Sokoto (Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states); 9 Division Headquarters –Ilorin (Kwara and Niger states); 10 Division Headquarters –Jalingo (Taraba and Adamawa tates);
81 Division Headquarters – Lagos (Lagos and Ogun states); 82 Division Headquarters –Enugu (Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo states); and 83 Division Headquarters –Benin City (Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states).
It was stated that the establishment of the new Divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City will significantly improve command and control and decentralise operational decision-making.
It will also 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.
As stated in the release, implementation of the new force structure 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,” it was added.
President Tinubu commended 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.
He also reaffirmed the determination of his administration to continue investing in the Armed Forces.
This, he said, was by ensuring they remained adequately equipped, highly motivated, and fully capable of protecting the nation and guaranteeing the safety and security of all Nigerians.
