Tinubu Approves 12 Army Divisions, Recruitment of 28,000 Personnel to Boost Security

President Bola Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army’s structure from eight to 12 divisions as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture and improve military operations across the country. The Presidency announced that the approval is part of the administration’s continued investment in the Armed Forces, which includes the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, acquisition of military equipment, improvement of troop welfare and support for force modernisation. According to a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the expansion is aimed at enhancing the Army’s ability to respond effectively to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges. The new structure will see the Nigerian Army operate 12 strategically positioned divisions across different regions of the country. New Nigerian Army Divisions and Locations Under the approved arrangement, the divisions will be distributed as follows: 1 Division Headquarters – Kaduna: Covering Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States. 2 Division Headquarters – Ibadan: Covering Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States. 3 Division Headquarters – Jos: Covering Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States. 5 Division Headquarters – Makurdi: Covering Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States. 6 Division Headquarters – Port Harcourt: Covering Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States. 7 Division Headquarters – Maiduguri: Covering Borno and Yobe States. 8 Division Headquarters – Sokoto: Covering Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States. 9 Division Headquarters – Ilorin: Covering Kwara and Niger States. 10 Division Headquarters – Jalingo: Covering Taraba and Adamawa States. 81 Division Headquarters – Lagos: Covering Lagos and Ogun States. 82 Division Headquarters – Enugu: Covering Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States. 83 Division Headquarters – Benin City: Covering Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States. Expected Benefits of the Expansion The Presidency said the creation of additional divisions would improve military command and control, decentralise decision-making and allow faster responses to security threats. The new structure is also expected to strengthen border protection, improve the defence of critical national infrastructure and enhance counter-insurgency and internal security operations. The establishment of new divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City is expected to improve military presence and coordination in areas facing security challenges. Implementation Timeline The implementation of the new Army structure will take place in two phases. The first phase will involve the establishment of the 5, 9 and 10 Divisions, alongside the reorganisation of existing formations. This phase is expected to be completed by September 2026. The second phase will focus on establishing the 83 Division and completing further restructuring, with a target completion date of December 2026. The Presidency said the expansion reflects President Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s defence capabilities and ensuring that the Armed Forces are better equipped to protect citizens and national interests.