President Bola Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army structure from eight to twelve divisions alongside the recruitment of 28,000 new personnel to strengthen national defence capabilities.
Restructuring and Strategic Deployment
The landmark initiative aims to enhance the country’s security architecture and improve operational effectiveness across the nation. Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, stated that the approval underscores the administration’s unwavering commitment to equipping the Armed Forces for evolving security challenges.
The expansion builds upon sustained investments in the military, including critical hardware acquisitions, troop welfare improvements, and force modernisation. Under the new framework, the twelve divisions will be strategically positioned nationwide:
1st Division (Headquarters: Kaduna) oversees Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa states.
2nd Division (Headquarters: Ibadan) oversees Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo states.
3rd Division (Headquarters: Jos) oversees Plateau, Bauchi, and Gombe states.
5th Division (Headquarters: Makurdi) oversees Benue, Nasarawa, and Kogi states.
6th Division (Headquarters: Port Harcourt) oversees Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states.
7th Division (Headquarters: Maiduguri) oversees Borno and Yobe states.
8th Division (Headquarters: Sokoto) oversees Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara states.
9th Division (Headquarters: Ilorin) oversees Kwara and Niger states.
10th Division (Headquarters: Jalingo) oversees Taraba and Adamawa states.
81 Division (Headquarters: Lagos) oversees Lagos and Ogun states.
82 Division (Headquarters: Enugu) oversees Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi, and Imo states.
83 Division (Headquarters: Benin City) oversees Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa states.
Operational Impact and Phased Implementation
The establishment of new divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo, and Benin City will significantly improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, and strengthen border security.
Furthermore, the changes aim to protect critical national infrastructure, enhance counter-insurgency operations, and ensure faster military responses to emerging threats.
The force structure implementation will occur in two phases. The first phase—covering the establishment of the 5th, 9th, and 10th Divisions alongside the reorganisation of existing formations—will conclude by September 2026. The second phase, involving the establishment of the 83rd Division and further reorganisation, is scheduled for completion by December 2026.
President Tinubu commended Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, alongside officers and soldiers, for their dedication to defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity. The President reaffirmed his administration’s determination to ensure the Armed Forces remain fully equipped and capable of guaranteeing national security.
