President Bola Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army’s structure from eight to twelve divisions in a landmark move to enhance the country’s security architecture and improve the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army.
Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga stated this on Thursday in a post on his X handle @aonanuga1956.
He said the approval underscored the President’s unwavering commitment to equipping the Armed Forces to effectively address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges and to strengthen national defence capabilities further.
Onanuga said that the expansion builds on the administration’s sustained investments in the Armed Forces, including approval for the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, acquisition of critical military platforms and equipment, improvements in troop welfare, and ongoing support for operational readiness and force modernisation.
Under the new structure, the Nigerian Army will operate 12 divisions, strategically positioned across the country.
They are 1 Division with headquarters Kaduna, which will have Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States under it; and 2 Division has Ibadan as headquarters and has Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states under its authority.
Plateau, Bauchi, and Gombe are under 3 Division whose headquarters is Jos; Benue, Nassarawa and Kogi are under 5 Division with headquarters in Markudi; while Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states are under Division 6 with headquarters in Port Harcourt.
The 7 Division of the Nigerian Army with headquarters in Maiduguri, in the new structure, has Borno and Yobe States under it.
Sokoto is the headquarters of the 9 Division and has Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states under it, while the 9 Division with headquarters in Ilorin has Kwara and Niger States under its authority.
Still under the new structure, the 10 Division with headquarters in Jalingo oversees Taraba and Adamawa States, while the 81 Division with headquarters in Lagos has Lagos and Ogun states under its authority.
Enugu remains the headquarters of the 82 Division and has Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States under its authority, while the 83 Division whose headquarters is Benin City has Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states operating under it.
“The establishment of the new Divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City will significantly improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure, improve counter-insurgency and internal security operations, and ensure faster military response to emerging threats nationwide.
“Implementation of the new force structure will be done in two phases. The first phase, covering the establishment of the 5, 9, and 10 Divisions and the reorganisation of existing formations, will be completed by September 2026.
“The second phase, involving the establishment of the 83 Division and further reorganisation, is expected to be completed by December 2026,” Onanuga explained.
He said President Tinubu commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, and all officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their dedication, professionalism, and steadfast commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“The President reaffirmed his Administration’s determination to continue investing in the Armed Forces, ensuring they remain adequately equipped, highly motivated, and fully capable of protecting the nation and guaranteeing the safety and security of all Nigerians,” the Presidential statesman said.
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