President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a major expansion of the Nigerian Army, increasing its operational structure from eight to twelve divisions and authorising the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s response to insecurity.
The Presidency said the restructuring is aimed at improving the Army’s operational effectiveness in tackling terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other security threats confronting the country.
According to government officials, the expansion will be implemented in two phases. The first phase, expected to be completed by September 2026, will involve the establishment of new formations and the reorganisation of existing units. The second phase, scheduled for completion by December 2026, will complete the transition to a twelve-division structure.
The new divisional headquarters are expected to be located in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City, extending the Army’s operational presence across different regions of the country.
The Federal Government said the expansion reflects the need to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture in response to evolving security threats. Officials argued that the additional personnel and new formations would improve rapid deployment, border security, intelligence coordination and counter-insurgency operations.
The announcement comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with persistent insecurity, including insurgency, mass kidnappings, attacks on schools, armed banditry and communal violence. Despite repeated increases in defence spending and numerous military operations over the years, many communities continue to experience insecurity, displacement and the destruction of livelihoods.
While expanding the Nigerian Army may improve operational capacity, military recruitment alone is unlikely to resolve the country’s security crisis. Sustainable security requires not only a better-equipped military but also improved intelligence gathering, professional policing, judicial accountability and meaningful investment in education, healthcare, employment and rural development.
Addressing poverty, inequality, unemployment and social exclusion remains essential to reducing the conditions that enable armed groups and organised criminal networks to recruit, expand and operate across the country.
