Tinubu Approves Expansion of Nigerian Army to 12 Divisions, Authorises Recruitment of 28,000 Personnel
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army to 12 operational divisions and authorised the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture and enhance the military’s operational effectiveness.
The approval is expected to improve the Army’s capacity to respond swiftly to security threats across the country through a more decentralised command structure and increased manpower.
Under the new force structure, the operational divisions will be strategically distributed as follows:
1 Division, Kaduna: Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states.
2 Division, Ibadan: Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states.
3 Division, Jos: Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states.
5 Division, Makurdi: Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states.
6 Division, Port Harcourt: Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.
7 Division, Maiduguri: Borno and Yobe states.
8 Division, Sokoto: Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
9 Division, Ilorin: Kwara and Niger states.
10 Division, Jalingo: Taraba and Adamawa states.
81 Division, Lagos: Lagos and Ogun states.
82 Division, Enugu: Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo states.
83 Division, Benin City: Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states.
Implementation of the new structure will be carried out in two phases. The first phase, which includes the establishment of the 5, 9 and 10 Divisions and the reorganisation of existing formations, is scheduled for completion by September 2026.
The second phase, involving the establishment of the 83 Division in Benin City, is expected to be completed by December 2026.
The expansion represents one of the most significant reorganisations of the Nigerian Army in recent years and is expected to enhance troop deployment, improve command and control, and strengthen the military’s ability to tackle insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other security challenges across the federation.
