Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said the operationalisation of new Nigerian Army formations in Zamfara, Kebbi, Oyo and Osun states will strengthen the military’s ability to respond swiftly and decisively to security threats, as his administration pursues a broader expansion of the Armed Forces’ operational footprint across the country.
In a message posted on his verified X handle on Sunday, October 4, 2026, the President said the new formations, which became operational during the week, had brought troops closer to communities exposed to insecurity. “This week, the Nigerian Army operationalised new formations in Zamfara, Kebbi, Oyo and Osun. Our troops are now closer to vulnerable communities in these areas, strengthening our ability to respond swiftly and decisively when our people are threatened,” Tinubu said.
The President linked the new deployments to a wider effort that includes improved troop welfare and expanded military infrastructure. He disclosed that the Federal Government was fast-tracking the construction of new barracks and depots in Abuja, Ekiti, Ebonyi and Kogi states, while a similar facility in Osun had already been completed. “As we demand more from our men and women in uniform, we must do more to support them and their families,” he said. He also expressed satisfaction with the impact of the recent pay increase for military personnel, noting that feedback from servicemen and women indicated the intervention was improving conditions for them and their families. “Over the past few days, servicemen and women of the Armed Forces have shared what the recent pay increase means for them and their families. I am glad it is making a difference,” he said.
Tinubu framed the combination of expanded military presence, personnel welfare and infrastructure as central to his administration’s effort to overhaul Nigeria’s security architecture. He stressed that strengthening security required not only deploying troops to troubled areas but also ensuring that those asked to defend the country were adequately supported to carry out their responsibilities. He said every military deployment also imposed sacrifices on personnel’s families, making their welfare an important part of the government’s security responsibility. “Every deployment is a sacrifice made by a family too. As our Armed Forces stand watch over Nigeria, my duty as Commander-in-Chief is to ensure they have the resources and support to do their job, and that Nigeria stands firmly behind the families waiting for them at home,” he said.
The operationalisation of the new formations follows President Tinubu’s approval in July 2026 for the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to twelve divisions, alongside the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel. The first phase of the rollout, covering the establishment of the 5 Division in Makurdi, the 9 Division in Ilorin, and the 10 Division in Jalingo, along with the reorganisation of existing formations, was scheduled for completion by September 2026. The 83 Division in Edo State is among the four new divisions, with Governor Monday Okpebholo setting a two-week deadline for its take-off in September. The Army has since appointed General Officers Commanding for the new divisions, with the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, expressing appreciation to the President for what he described as a historic expansion of the Army’s operational architecture.
The decision to expand the Army’s force structure has drawn a mixed reception from analysts. Supporters argue that the creation of additional divisions will decentralise operational decision-making, improve coordination and intelligence sharing, and shorten response times to security incidents across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. The government has said the new divisions will ensure better coordination, intelligence sharing and faster response times. Critics, however, have cautioned that without accompanying reforms in training, equipment and oversight, the expansion risks making the Army bigger but not necessarily more effective. The Chatham House, in an analysis published in August 2026, warned that inadequate training and equipment shortfalls could undermine the gains of the expansion.
The security challenges confronting Nigeria remain formidable. The country continues to grapple with the Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province insurgency in the North-East, armed banditry and kidnapping in the North-West, separatist agitations in the South-East, and farmer-herder conflicts in the North-Central region. In recent weeks alone, bandits killed a village head in Kebbi State, attacked communities in Sokoto and Kaduna states, abducted travellers along major highways, and kidnapped 19 prospective National Youth Service Corps members in Imo State. The military has conducted sustained operations across these theatres, including Operation FANSAN YAMMA in the North-West and Operation HADIN KAI in the North-East, recording arrests, rescues and the recovery of weapons.
Beyond the Army expansion, the President used the occasion to reaffirm his administration’s commitment to establishing state police, assuring that checks and balances would be emplaced to safeguard the system. “There will be state police. That state police will have guardrails from abuses. We’ll protect it from abuses, and you traditional rulers too will have roles to play,” he said during a separate engagement with traditional rulers from Oyo State at the State House in July. He also disclosed that the government was enhancing the capacity of forest guards, saying they were not just to chase animals but to pursue criminals in the forests. He called on Nigerians to be more vigilant and aware of their neighbours and communities so as to report strange people and occurrences.
The political context of the President’s message is significant. The 2027 general elections are less than four months away, with the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, and the governorship and state assembly elections for February 6. Security has emerged as one of the central issues in the campaign, alongside the cost of living and the economy. President Tinubu is seeking a second term on the All Progressives Congress platform, while former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress and former Anambra Governor Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress are among the major challengers. The President’s decision to highlight the new formations and the welfare of troops is intended to present his administration as taking decisive action on security, a theme that will feature prominently in the coming months of campaigning. As Tinubu put it, his responsibility as Commander-in-Chief is to ensure that the Armed Forces have the resources and support to do their job, and that Nigeria stands firmly behind the families waiting for them at home.
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