The Presidency has announced a major restructuring of the Nigerian Army following President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the expansion of its operational structure from eight to 12 divisions and the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel as part of efforts to strengthen national security and enhance the military’s operational capacity.
The approval, announced in a statement on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, is aimed at improving the Armed Forces’ ability to respond to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges through enhanced command structures, increased manpower and improved operational readiness.
According to the Presidency, the expansion represents “a landmark move to enhance the country’s security architecture and improve the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army.”
Onanuga 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.”
He explained that the restructuring builds on the Tinubu administration’s continued investments in the military, including the approval for the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, acquisition of military platforms and equipment, troop welfare improvements and ongoing force modernisation.
Under the new arrangement, the Nigerian Army will operate 12 divisions across the country, with four new divisions to be established in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City.
According to the Presidency, the additional divisions are expected to improve military command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure and boost counter-insurgency as well as internal security operations.
“The establishment of the 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,” the statement said.
The Presidency said implementation of the new force structure would be carried out in two phases.
The first phase, involving the establishment of the 5 Division in Makurdi, 9 Division in Ilorin and 10 Division in Jalingo, alongside the reorganisation of existing formations, is scheduled for completion by September 2026.
The second phase, which includes the creation of the 83 Division in Benin City and further restructuring of formations, is expected to be concluded by December 2026.
Existing divisions in Kaduna, Ibadan, Jos, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Lagos and Enugu will remain operational under the expanded structure, with responsibilities covering all states of the federation.
President Tinubu also commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for what the Presidency described as their dedication, professionalism and commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustained investment 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.”
