By Our Staff Reporter,  Abuja

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to twelve divisions and the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel in a major overhaul of the country’s security architecture.

The announcement was contained in a State House press release signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, on Thursday, July 23, 2026.

According to the statement, the move is aimed at enhancing operational effectiveness and equipping the Armed Forces to tackle Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.

“This approval underscores the President’s unwavering commitment to equipping the Armed Forces to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges effectively and to strengthen national defence capabilities further,” the release stated.

Under the new arrangement, the Nigerian Army will operate twelve divisions strategically spread across the country:

1. 1 Division – Kaduna: Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States 

2. 2 Division – Ibadan: Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States 

3. 3 Division – Jos: Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States 

4. 5 Division – Makurdi: Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States 

5. 6 Division – Port Harcourt: Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States 

6. 7 Division – Maiduguri: Borno and Yobe States 

7. 8 Division – Sokoto: Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States 

8. 9 Division – Ilorin: Kwara and Niger States 

9. 10 Division – Jalingo: Taraba and Adamawa States 

10. 81 Division – Lagos: Lagos and Ogun States 

11. 82 Division – Enugu: Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States 

12. 83 Division – Benin City: Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States 

The Presidency said the creation of new divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City will improve command and control, decentralize operational decision-making, strengthen border security, protect critical national infrastructure, and enable faster military response to emerging threats.

Implementation will occur in two phases. 

Phase one, covering the establishment of the 5, 9, and 10 Divisions and the reorganisation of existing formations, is to be completed by September 2026. 

Phase two, involving the establishment of the 83 Division and further reorganisation, is expected to be completed by December 2026.

The expansion builds on the administration’s ongoing investments, which include the acquisition of critical military platforms, improvements in troop welfare, and support for operational readiness and force modernization.

President Tinubu commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, and all officers and soldiers for their dedication to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty.

He reaffirmed his administration’s determination to continue investing in the Armed Forces “to ensure they remain adequately equipped, highly motivated, and fully capable of protecting the nation and guaranteeing the safety and security of all Nigerians.”