FG Strengthens Security with Army Expansion, Massive Recruitment

President Bola Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions and authorised the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.

The approval was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. According to the statement, the expansion is designed to improve the Army’s operational effectiveness, reinforce national defence and enhance its ability to address the country’s evolving security challenges.
The Presidency noted that the decision is in line with the administration’s sustained investment in the Armed Forces, including the acquisition of military platforms and equipment, improvements in troop welfare, operational readiness and force modernisation.
Under the new arrangement, the Nigerian Army will operate 12 divisions nationwide. Four new divisions will be established in Makurdi, Benue State; Ilorin, Kwara State; Jalingo, Taraba State; and Benin City, Edo State, while the existing divisions will continue to operate from Kaduna, Ibadan, Jos, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Lagos and Enugu.
The government said the additional divisions would strengthen command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, improve border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure and reinforce counter-insurgency as well as internal security operations.
Implementation of the new force structure will be carried out in two phases. The first phase, which covers the establishment of the 5, 9 and 10 Divisions and the reorganisation of existing formations, is expected to be completed by September 2026. The second phase, involving the establishment of the 83 Division and further restructuring, is scheduled for completion by December 2026.
President Tinubu commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, alongside officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their dedication and professionalism. He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustained investment in the Armed Forces to ensure they remain well-equipped, motivated and capable of defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and protecting lives and property.