President Bola Tinubu has given the go-ahead for the Nigerian Army to expand from eight divisions to 12, marking a significant strengthening of the country's security framework. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga announced the decision, emphasizing that it reflects Tinubu's commitment to giving the Armed Forces the tools needed to tackle Nigeria's mounting security threats.
The expansion comes as part of broader military upgrades already backed by the administration. These include approval for 28,000 new military recruits, procurement of advanced weapons and equipment, better conditions for soldiers, and modernization of the armed forces.
Under the new structure, the army will deploy divisions across the country in strategic locations. The 1 Division will be headquartered in Kaduna, covering Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states, while 2 Division operates from Ibadan across Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states.
The 3 Division will sit in Jos, serving Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states. The 5 Division, based in Makurdi, will oversee Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states, with 6 Division in Port Harcourt handling Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.
The 7 Division in Maiduguri covers Borno and Yobe, while 8 Division operates from Sokoto across Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states. The 9 Division will be headquartered in Ilorin, managing Kwara and Niger states.
The 10 Division takes position in Jalingo for Taraba and Adamawa states. In the south, 81 Division will be based in Lagos serving Lagos and Ogun, while 82 Division operates from Enugu covering Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo states.
The 83 Division will be stationed in Benin City, overseeing Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states. Four divisions are newly established: those in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City.
According to the statement, these new divisions will improve command structure and speed up decision-making across operations. They'll strengthen border protection, safeguard key national assets, boost counter-insurgency efforts, and allow faster military response to threats nationwide.
The rollout happens in two phases. The first phase, ending in September 2026, covers setting up the 5, 9, and 10 divisions and reorganizing existing units.
The second phase, wrapping up by December 2026, involves establishing the 83 Division and further restructuring.
Tinubu praised Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, the Chief of Army Staff, and all military personnel for their service. He said his government remains committed to backing the Armed Forces with resources, motivation, and capacity to protect Nigeria and keep citizens safe.
