President Bola Tinubu has approved a major expansion of the Nigerian Army, increasing its operational structure to 12 divisions and authorising the recruitment of an additional 28,000 personnel as part of efforts to strengthen national security and improve military presence across the country.
The new force structure is expected to enhance the Army’s capacity to tackle insecurity, improve rapid deployment and reinforce operations against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other security threats nationwide.
Under the approved arrangement, the 12 divisions will comprise:
* 1 Division, Kaduna – covering Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states.
* 2 Division, Ibadan – covering Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states.
* 3 Division, Jos – covering Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states.
* 5 Division, Makurdi – covering Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states.
* 6 Division, Port Harcourt – covering Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.
* 7 Division, Maiduguri – covering Borno and Yobe states.
* 8 Division, Sokoto – covering Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
* 9 Division, Ilorin – covering Kwara and Niger states.
* 10 Division, Jalingo – covering Taraba and Adamawa states.
* 81 Division, Lagos – covering Lagos and Ogun states.
* 82 Division, Enugu – covering Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo states.
* 83 Division, Benin City – covering Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states.
The implementation of the expanded force structure will be carried out in two phases.
The first phase, scheduled for completion by September 2026, will involve the establishment of the 5, 9 and 10 Divisions, alongside the reorganisation of existing formations.
The second phase, expected to be completed by December 2026, will see the establishment of the 83 Division and the completion of further organisational restructuring within the Nigerian Army.
The expansion is one of the most significant reorganisations of the Army in recent years and is expected to boost operational effectiveness, improve command and control, and deepen security coverage across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
