Senator Ali Ndume has endorsed President Bola Tinubu's decision to expand the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions and recruit 28,000 additional personnel. The Borno South lawmaker said the move strengthens the nation's security framework and speeds up military response times.
The Federal Government announced on Thursday the creation of four new divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City. Presidential Spokesperson Bayo Onanuga noted that the expansion shows "the President's unwavering commitment to equipping the Armed Forces to address Nigeria's evolving security challenges and to strengthen national defence capabilities."
However, Ndume believes the government must go further than simply establishing new divisions. In a statement released in Abuja on Saturday, he demanded that the Federal Government purchase at least five attack helicopters for each of the six geopolitical zones.
He also called for Special Task Force Brigades to be set up within the new divisions. "Each division should be equipped with MRAPs, APCs and attack helicopters.
Let every geopolitical zone have at least five attack helicopters for rapid response to give cover to ground troops," he said.
The senator stressed that military success hinges on what he termed TEAM: Training, Equipment, Ammunition and Motivation. He pointed out that recruitment numbers alone won't solve security challenges if soldiers remain poorly resourced and demoralized.
Ndume pressed the administration to urgently raise military salaries across the board. "The Federal Government should increase the remuneration of the Army and other security agencies.
Their basic salary should not be less than the Naira equivalent of $300. Even if we have to borrow, let the President borrow to equip our Armed Forces," he added.
The lawmaker also praised frontline troops for driving back insurgents, citing recent successes in the North East. He specifically commended the 82 Task Force Brigade in Gwoza under Operation Hadin Kai for recently rescuing over 100 abductees, in addition to 360 others freed earlier from terrorist captors.
