President Bola Tinubu has expanded the Nigerian Army’s structure from eight to 12 divisions in said bid to enhance the country’s security architecture and improve the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army.
The president also approved the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel.
This was announced in a statement issued on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to Onanunga, the approval underscored Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to equipping the Armed Forces to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges effectively and to strengthen national defence capabilities further.
He held that the expansion builds on the Administration’s sustained investments in the Armed Forces, including approved recruitment of personnel, acquisition of critical military platforms and equipment, improvements in troop welfare, and ongoing support for operational readiness and force modernisation.
Under the new structure, the Nigerian Army will operate twelve divisions, strategically positioned across the country as follows:
- 1 Division Headquarters – Kaduna (Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States)
- 2 Division Headquarters – Ibadan (Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States)
- 3 Division Headquarters – Jos (Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States)
- 5 Division Headquarters – Makurdi (Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States)
- 6 Division Headquarters – Port Harcourt (Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States)
- 7 Division Headquarters – Maiduguri (Borno and Yobe States)
- 8 Division Headquarters – Sokoto (Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States)
- 9 Division Headquarters – Ilorin (Kwara and Niger States)
- 10 Division Headquarters – Jalingo (Taraba and Adamawa States)
- 81 Division Headquarters – Lagos (Lagos and Ogun States)
- 82 Division Headquarters – Enugu (Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States)
- 83 Division Headquarters – Benin City (Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States).
The newly established divisions include Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo, and Benin City.
According to Oanunga, the new divisions will improve command and control.
“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 said.
Meanwhile, 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.
Tinubu commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. 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.