Tinubu Approves Creation Of Additional 4 Army Divisions, Orders Recruitment Of 28,000 Troops

Thursday July 23, 2026
www.thenewsdesk.ng

President Bola Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions and authorised the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel in what the Presidency described as a major step toward strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.

The approval, announced in a statement on Thursday, July 23, 2026, by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, is aimed at enhancing the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army and improving the country’s ability to tackle emerging security threats.

According to the Presidency, the restructuring forms part of the administration’s broader efforts to modernise the Armed Forces through increased manpower, improved welfare, acquisition of military hardware and enhanced operational readiness.

The statement said the army’s expanded structure would comprise 12 divisions strategically located across the country. Existing formations will remain in Kaduna, Ibadan, Jos, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Lagos and Enugu, while four new divisions will be established in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City.

The Presidency said the new formations would strengthen military command and control, improve border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure and bolster counter-insurgency and other internal security operations.

It added that the decentralised command structure would also ensure quicker military responses to security threats across the country.

Implementation of the new force structure will be carried out in two phases. The first phase, covering the establishment of the 5 Division in Makurdi, the 9 Division in Ilorin and the 10 Division in Jalingo, alongside the reorganisation of existing formations, is expected to be completed by September 2026.

The second phase, which includes the establishment of the 83 Division in Benin City and further restructuring, is scheduled for completion by December 2026.

The Presidency said the expansion reflects the administration’s commitment to strengthening national defence and equipping the Armed Forces to respond effectively to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.

President Tinubu also praised the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, as well as officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their service to the nation.

According to the statement, the President commended them for their “dedication, professionalism, and steadfast commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

He further assured that his administration would sustain investments in the military, reaffirming its resolve to ensure the Armed Forces remain “adequately equipped, highly motivated, and fully capable of protecting the nation and guaranteeing the safety and security of all Nigerians.”

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