President Bola Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions and authorised the recruitment of 20,000 additional personnel to strengthen the country’s security architecture.

The approval was announced on Thursday in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said the move is aimed at enhancing the Army’s operational effectiveness in addressing Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.

According to the statement, the expanded structure is expected to improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure and boost counter-insurgency and other internal security operations.

Under the new arrangement, the Army will operate 12 divisions across the country:

• 1 Division, Kaduna – Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states.
• 2 Division, Ibadan – Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states.
• 3 Division, Jos – Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states.
• 5 Division, Makurdi – Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states.
• 6 Division, Port Harcourt – Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.
• 7 Division, Maiduguri – Borno and Yobe states.
• 8 Division, Sokoto – Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
• 9 Division, Ilorin – Kwara and Niger states.
• 10 Division, Jalingo – Taraba and Adamawa states.
• 81 Division, Lagos – Lagos and Ogun states.
• 82 Division, Enugu – Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo states.
• 83 Division, Benin City – Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states.

The Presidency said the implementation of the new force structure will be carried out in two phases. The first phase, which includes 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 creation of the 83 Division and additional restructuring, is scheduled for completion by December 2026.

Tinubu commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, as well as officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their dedication, professionalism and commitment to defending the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustained investment in the Armed Forces to ensure they remain well-equipped, motivated and capable of safeguarding Nigeria and its citizens.