AWC STATEHOUSE DESK
Abuja, Nigeria — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has approved a major restructuring and expansion of the Nigerian Army, increasing its operational structure from eight to twelve divisions as part of efforts to strengthen national defence, improve internal security operations and respond more effectively to emerging threats.
The expansion, announced by the Presidency, is described as a landmark step aimed at enhancing the Army’s capacity to protect Nigerians, secure critical national assets, improve border security and tackle insecurity across different parts of the country.
Under the new arrangement, the Nigerian Army will establish additional divisions and strategically reposition existing formations to achieve faster response, improved command coordination and stronger presence across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.
New Divisions to Boost Security Coverage
The expanded structure will see the Nigerian Army operate 12 divisions, strategically located across the country:
- 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 Presidency stated that the creation of new divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City will significantly improve military coordination, decentralise operational decision-making and strengthen Nigeria’s ability to respond rapidly to security challenges.
28,000 New Personnel Approved
As part of the expansion programme, President Tinubu also approved the recruitment of 28,000 additional military personnel into the Armed Forces.
The recruitment, alongside the acquisition of military equipment, improvement in troop welfare and modernisation efforts, is expected to improve operational readiness and enhance the capacity of the Nigerian Army to combat terrorism, banditry, insurgency, kidnapping and other security threats.
Phased Implementation
The implementation of the new force structure will be carried out in phases.
The first phase, covering the establishment of the 5, 9 and 10 Divisions and the reorganisation of existing formations, is expected to be completed by September 2026.
The second phase, involving the establishment of the 83 Division and further restructuring, is expected to be completed by December 2026.
President Commends Nigerian Army
President Tinubu commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, and officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their dedication and commitment to defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring that the Armed Forces remain well-equipped, motivated and capable of protecting the nation and guaranteeing the safety of citizens.
The expansion comes at a time Nigeria continues to battle complex security challenges, including terrorism in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, kidnapping across several regions and other emerging threats requiring coordinated national security responses.
The restructuring is expected to mark a new phase in Nigeria’s security architecture by bringing military command closer to communities and improving operational efficiency nationwide.
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