President Tinubu approves expansion of Nigerian Army to 12 Divisions, recruitment of 28,000 personnel to strengthen National security

President Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army’s structure from eight to twelve divisions, a landmark move to enhance the country’s security architecture and improve the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army.

A statement released by presidential media aide, Bayo Onanuga, says this approval 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.

Onanuga mentioned that under the new structure, the Nigerian Army will operate twelve divisions, strategically positioned across the country as follows:

1. 1 Division Headquarters – Kaduna (Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States)

2. 2 Division Headquarters – Ibadan (Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States)

3. 3 Division Headquarters – Jos (Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States)

4. 5 Division Headquarters – Makurdi (Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States)

5. 6 Division Headquarters – Port Harcourt (Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States)

6. 7 Division Headquarters – Maiduguri (Borno and Yobe States)

7. 8 Division Headquarters – Sokoto (Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States)

8. 9 Division Headquarters – Ilorin (Kwara and Niger States)

9. 10 Division Headquarters – Jalingo (Taraba and Adamawa States)

10. 81 Division Headquarters – Lagos (Lagos and Ogun States)

11. 82 Division Headquarters – Enugu (Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States)

12. 83 Division Headquarters – Benin City (Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States).

Onanuga said 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.

He stated that the 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.”

Onanuga added that 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.

The President 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.