Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the largest expansion of the Nigerian Army in decades, increasing its operational structure from eight to twelve divisions and authorising the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel as part of a sweeping reform aimed at strengthening national security and improving military response to emerging threats across the country. The approval, announced in a State House statement issued on Thursday, July 23, 2026, by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, underscores the administration's determination to equip the Armed Forces to address Nigeria's evolving security challenges and enhance the country's defence capabilities.
Under the new structure, the Nigerian Army will operate twelve divisions strategically positioned across the country, with four new divisional headquarters to be established in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City. The 5 Division Headquarters in Makurdi will cover Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states, while the 9 Division Headquarters in Ilorin will oversee Kwara and Niger states. The 10 Division Headquarters in Jalingo will cover Taraba and Adamawa states, and the 83 Division Headquarters in Benin City will oversee Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states. The existing divisions will continue to operate from their current headquarters, with the 1 Division in Kaduna covering Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states; the 2 Division in Ibadan covering Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states; and the 3 Division in Jos covering Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states. The 6 Division in Port Harcourt will cover Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states; the 7 Division in Maiduguri will continue to oversee Borno and Yobe states; and the 8 Division in Sokoto will cover Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states. The 81 Division Headquarters in Lagos will cover Lagos and Ogun states, while the 82 Division Headquarters in Enugu will oversee Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo states.
The Presidency said the establishment of the new divisions would 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. The expansion builds on the administration's sustained investments in the Armed Forces, including the acquisition of critical military platforms and equipment, improvements in troop welfare, and ongoing support for operational readiness and force modernisation. The recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel is expected to strengthen the Army's manpower base and enhance its capacity to respond to the country's diverse security challenges.
Implementation of the new force structure will be carried out in two 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 in Benin City and further reorganisation, is projected to be concluded by December 2026. President Tinubu commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General 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. He 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.
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