In a major move to address Nigeria’s pressing security challenges, President Bola Tinubu has approved a comprehensive restructuring of the Nigerian Army. The approved expansion will increase the Army’s structural framework from eight to 12 divisions and pave the way for the recruitment of 28,000 additional military personnel.
According to a statement released by the presidency, this sweeping reform represents a strategic investment in the nation’s defense architecture. The development aligns with ongoing efforts to modernize the Armed Forces, secure state-of-the-art military hardware, improve troop welfare, and enhance overall operational readiness.
Strategic Alignment: The 12 Army Divisions
Under the newly reorganized force structure, the 12 divisions will be strategically stationed across the country to cover all geopolitical zones as follows:
- 1 Division (Headquarters: Kaduna) – Serving Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa States.
- 2 Division (Headquarters: Ibadan) – Serving Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo States.
- 3 Division (Headquarters: Jos) – Serving Plateau, Bauchi, and Gombe States.
- 5 Division (Headquarters: Makurdi) – Serving Benue, Nasarawa, and Kogi States (New).
- 6 Division (Headquarters: Port Harcourt) – Serving Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River States.
- 7 Division (Headquarters: Maiduguri) – Serving Borno and Yobe States.
- 8 Division (Headquarters: Sokoto) – Serving Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara States.
- 9 Division (Headquarters: Ilorin) – Serving Kwara and Niger States (New).
- 10 Division (Headquarters: Jalingo) – Serving Taraba and Adamawa States (New).
- 81 Division (Headquarters: Lagos) – Serving Lagos and Ogun States.
- 82 Division (Headquarters: Enugu) – Serving Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi, and Imo States.
- 83 Division (Headquarters: Benin City) – Serving Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa States (New).
Phased Implementation Plan
Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, explained that establishing these new command centers will decentralize operational decision-making. The structural upgrade is designed to reinforce border security, secure critical national assets, and ensure rapid response times to domestic security threats.
The reorganization of the force structure will be executed in two successive phases:
- Phase 1: The establishment of the 5, 9, and 10 Divisions, alongside the reorganization of existing formations, is expected to be finalized by September 2026.
- Phase 2: The activation of the 83 Division in Benin City and further support structures will be wrapped up by December 2026.
President Tinubu praised the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shuaibu, alongside officers and soldiers, for their unwavering patriotism and defense of Nigeria’s sovereignty, reiterating that his administration will continue to provide the necessary resources to keep the nation safe.