President Bola Tinubu has approved a major expansion of the Nigerian Army. The army's structure will grow from eight divisions to twelve. The Commander-in-Chief also approved the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel. The Presidency confirmed the decision on July 23, 2026.
The announcement came via a Statehouse press release. It was issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. Tinubu holds the title of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
The expansion adds four new divisions to the existing structure. They will be headquartered in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo, and Benin City. Each new division will oversee a cluster of states.
The 5 Division in Makurdi will cover Benue, Nasarawa, and Kogi. The 9 Division in Ilorin will cover Kwara and Niger. The 10 Division in Jalingo will cover Taraba and Adamawa. The 83 Division in Benin City will cover Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa.
Eight existing divisions remain in place. These are located in Kaduna, Ibadan, Jos, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Lagos, and Enugu. Together, all twelve divisions will span the entire country.
The Presidency says the restructuring builds on earlier military investments. These include equipment acquisition, troop welfare upgrades, and force modernisation efforts. Officials say the changes aim to improve command and control. They also cite goals of stronger border security and faster response times.
Implementation will happen in two phases. Phase one covers the 5th, 9th, and 10th Divisions. It also includes reorganisation of existing formations. This phase is set for completion by September 2026.
Phase two covers the establishment of the 83 Division. Further reorganisation will follow. The Presidency expects this phase to finish by December 2026.
President Tinubu praised the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu. He also commended Nigerian Army officers and soldiers for their service. The Presidency says it will continue investing in the Armed Forces going forward.
Source: Statehouse Press Release, July 23, 2026.
