Tinubu approves the Nigerian Army’s expansion to twelve divisions.

This initiative is part of the Presidency’s strategy to enhance the Army’s operational effectiveness and capacity to tackle Nigeria’s evolving security challenges. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, emphasized that this move reflects the President’s commitment to empowering the Armed Forces with the necessary resources to bolster national defense capabilities.

The broader military investment plan encompasses not just personnel recruitment but also the acquisition of military platforms and equipment, improvements in troop welfare, and ongoing support for force modernization. The restructuring will strategically position the twelve divisions across the country, with new divisions being established in key locations including Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo, and Benin City. This expansion aims to improve military coordination, enhance response times, decentralize operational decision-making, strengthen border security, protect critical national infrastructure, and bolster counter-insurgency and internal security operations.

The restructuring will take place in two phases: the first phase will establish the 5, 9, and 10 Divisions and reorganize existing formations by September 2026, while the second phase will involve the establishment of the 83 Division and further reorganization, to be completed by December 2026. President Tinubu praised the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, and the troops for their dedication and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring the Armed Forces are well-equipped, motivated, and capable of safeguarding Nigeria and its citizens.

The divisions and their areas of responsibility are:

1 Division Headquarters in Kaduna, covering Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states;

2 Division Headquarters in Ibadan, covering Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states;

3 Division Headquarters in Jos, covering Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states;

5 Division Headquarters in Makurdi, covering Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states;

6 Division Headquarters in Port Harcourt, covering Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states;

7 Division Headquarters in Maiduguri, covering Borno and Yobe states;

8 Division Headquarters in Sokoto, covering Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states;

9 Division Headquarters in Ilorin, covering Kwara and Niger states;

10 Division Headquarters in Jalingo, covering Taraba and Adamawa states;

81 Division Headquarters in Lagos, covering Lagos and Ogun states;

82 Division Headquarters in Enugu, covering Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo states; and