Tinubu Approves 12 New Army Divisions, 28,000 Recruitment

According to Ireporter Online, the approval also includes the recruitment of 28,000 additional military personnel, procurement of critical defence equipment, and increased investment in the welfare and operational readiness of troops.

The decision was disclosed in a statement issued by the Presidency through the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who explained that the restructuring is aimed at improving command and control, decentralising operational decision-making, and enhancing the Army’s capacity to respond swiftly to security challenges.

As part of the restructuring, four new divisions will be established in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City. The new 5 Division Headquarters in Makurdi will oversee military operations in Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states, while the 9 Division in Ilorin will cover Kwara and Niger states. The 10 Division, headquartered in Jalingo, will supervise Taraba and Adamawa states, while the newly created 83 Division in Benin City will oversee Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states.

The existing divisional structure remains in place, with the 1 Division in Kaduna covering Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states; the 2 Division in Ibadan overseeing Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo; the 3 Division in Jos covering Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe; the 6 Division in Port Harcourt responsible for Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River; the 7 Division in Maiduguri overseeing Borno and Yobe; the 8 Division in Sokoto covering Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara; the 81 Division in Lagos responsible for Lagos and Ogun; and the 82 Division in Enugu overseeing Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo states.

The Presidency noted that the creation of the additional divisions is expected to strengthen border security, improve the protection of critical national infrastructure, enhance counter-insurgency and internal security operations, and ensure faster military response to threats across the country.

Implementation of the expansion will be carried out in two phases. The first phase, which includes the establishment of the 5, 9 and 10 Divisions and the reorganisation of existing formations, is scheduled for completion by September 2026. The second phase, involving the establishment of the 83 Division in Benin City and additional restructuring, is expected to be concluded by December 2026.

President Tinubu also commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, alongside officers and personnel of the Nigerian Army for their commitment to safeguarding the nation, while reaffirming his administration’s commitment to sustained investment in the Armed Forces to improve national security.