President Bola Tinubu has greenlit a major restructuring of the Nigerian Army, expanding it from eight to twelve divisions and authorising the recruitment of 20,000 fresh personnel. His spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, announced the decision on Thursday in a statement that outlined the strategic overhaul.
Onanuga said the expansion aims to strengthen the nation's security apparatus and boost the combat readiness of the armed forces. He added that the move reflects Tinubu's determination to arm the military with the resources needed to tackle Nigeria's mounting security threats.
The twelve divisions will be distributed across Nigeria's geopolitical zones, each with its own headquarters. Division 1 is based in Kaduna, covering Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States, while Division 2 operates from Ibadan in the southwest.
Division 3 is stationed in Jos, overseeing Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States. Division 5, meanwhile, will be headquartered in Makurdi to cover Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States.
Port Harcourt hosts Division 6, which oversees Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States. Division 7 is positioned in Maiduguri for Borno and Yobe States, while Division 8 operates from Sokoto.
Three fresh divisions will be established in the north-central and southern regions. Division 9 will be based in Ilorin, serving Kwara and Niger States, while Division 10 is stationed in Jalingo to cover Taraba and Adamawa States.
The southern zones will also see expansion. Division 81 will operate from Lagos, covering Lagos and Ogun States, while Division 82 is headquartered in Enugu to manage five southeastern states including Anambra, Abia and Imo.
Division 83 will be established in Benin City, taking charge of Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States. The four new divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City are designed to improve military command structures across the nation.
According to Onanuga, the new divisions will decentralise operational decisions, strengthen border protection and boost counter-insurgency operations. They'll also allow faster military responses to security emergencies nationwide.
The implementation plan spans two phases. The first phase, completing by September 2026, will establish divisions 5, 9 and 10, alongside reorganising existing formations.
The second phase, finishing by December 2026, will see Division 83 officially established. Onanuga said this phased approach will ensure smooth integration across the military structure.
Tinubu praised Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, the Chief of Army Staff, and all army personnel for their service. The president pledged continued investment in the armed forces to ensure they remain well-equipped and motivated.
