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President Bola Tinubu has approved a major restructuring of the Nigerian Army, expanding its structure from eight to 12 divisions and authorising the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, the State House announced on Thursday.
The approval, conveyed in a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, was described as a “landmark move to enhance the country’s security architecture and improve the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army.”
The statement 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.”
Under the new structure, the Army will operate 12 divisions positioned across the country.
The statement lists the locations and areas of responsibility, including 1 Division Headquarters in Kaduna covering Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa; 2 Division Headquarters in Ibadan covering Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo; 3 Division Headquarters in Jos covering Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe; 5 Division Headquarters in Makurdi covering Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi; 6 Division Headquarters in Port Harcourt covering Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River; 7 Division Headquarters in Maiduguri covering Borno and Yobe; 8 Division Headquarters in Sokoto covering Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara; 9 Division Headquarters in Ilorin covering Kwara and Niger; 10 Division Headquarters in Jalingo covering Taraba and Adamawa; 81 Division Headquarters in Lagos covering Lagos and Ogun; 82 Division Headquarters in Enugu covering Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo; and 83 Division Headquarters in Benin City covering Edo, Delta and Bayelsa.
The Presidency said the establishment of 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.”
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Implementation of the new force structure will be carried out in two phases, the statement said.
“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.”
The expansion builds on what the Presidency termed 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.”
President Tinubu commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi 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 his administration’s determination “to continue investing in the Armed Forces, ensuring they remain adequately equipped, highly motivated, and fully capable of protecting the nation and guaranteeing the safety and security of all Nigerians.”
