Tinubu Expands Nigerian Army to 12 Divisions, Approves Recruitment of 28,000 Personnel
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions and authorised the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture and improve the military’s operational reach.
The approval, announced by the Presidency in July, provides for a new force structure with division headquarters strategically distributed across the country.
Under the approved structure, the Nigerian Army will operate 12 divisions with responsibility for different geographical areas.
The 12 Nigerian Army Divisions
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 new structure introduces division headquarters in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City, with the Presidency saying the arrangement is intended to decentralise operational decision-making, improve command and control, strengthen border security and enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure.
It is also expected to support faster military responses to emerging security threats, as well as counter-insurgency and internal security operations.
Implementation in Two Phases
Implementation of the restructuring is being carried out in two phases.
The first phase covers the establishment of the 5, 9 and 10 Divisions, alongside the reorganisation of existing formations. It is scheduled for completion by September 2026.
The second phase involves the establishment of the 83 Division in Benin City and further reorganisation of the Army’s formations, with completion scheduled for December 2026.
The Nigerian Army has since begun putting leadership structures in place for the new formations. Major General Yakubu Yahaya was appointed to head the 9 Division in Ilorin, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife to lead the 10 Division in Jalingo, while Major General Moses Gara was appointed to command the 5 Division in Makurdi.
28,000 Additional Personnel
The restructuring is being accompanied by approval for the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, alongside investments in military platforms and equipment, troop welfare and operational readiness.
Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, recently said the expansion would require stronger leadership, tactical competence and operational readiness from officers as the Army translates increased manpower and an expanded force structure into operational capability.
President Tinubu has maintained that the expansion is intended to strengthen Nigeria’s national defence capabilities and enable the Armed Forces to respond more effectively to the country’s evolving security challenges.
