President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions as part of measures to strengthen the country’s security architecture and boost military response to emerging threats.
The expansion, announced by the Presidency on Thursday, will see the creation of new Army divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City, while existing formations undergo restructuring to improve operational effectiveness and command coordination.
The move is part of the Federal Government’s broader effort to enhance national defence capabilities, following the President’s approval for the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, procurement of military equipment, improved welfare for troops and continued modernisation of the Armed Forces.
Under the new arrangement, the Nigerian Army will operate 12 divisions strategically located across the country, with each formation assigned operational responsibilities covering various states.
The new 5 Division Headquarters will be established in Makurdi to oversee Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States; the 9 Division Headquarters will be located in Ilorin with responsibility for Kwara and Niger States; the 10 Division Headquarters in Jalingo will cover Taraba and Adamawa States; while the 83 Division Headquarters in Benin City will oversee Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States.
Other existing divisions will retain their headquarters in Kaduna, Ibadan, Jos, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Lagos and Enugu, with expanded operational mandates.
The Presidency said the restructuring would improve military command and control, decentralise decision-making, strengthen border protection, safeguard critical infrastructure and enhance counter-insurgency and internal security operations.
Implementation of the new structure will be carried out in two phases. The first phase, involving the establishment of the 5, 9 and 10 Divisions as well as the reorganisation of existing formations, is expected to be completed by September 2026.
The second phase, which includes the establishment of the 83 Division and further restructuring, is scheduled for completion by December 2026.
President Tinubu commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, and personnel of the Nigerian Army for their commitment to protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
He reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to continue investing in the Armed Forces to ensure they remain well-equipped, motivated and capable of responding effectively to security challenges across the country.
