President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a major expansion of the Nigerian Army, increasing its operational formations to 12 divisions and authorising the recruitment of an additional 28,000 personnel as part of efforts to strengthen national security and improve military operations across the country.
The expansion is aimed at enhancing the Army’s operational capacity, improving response to security threats, and ensuring more effective coverage of all geopolitical zones.
Under the approved force structure, the Nigerian Army’s 12 divisions are as follows:
1. 1 Division – Kaduna: Covers Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States.
2. 2 Division – Ibadan: Covers Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States.
3. 3 Division – Jos: Covers Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States.
4. 5 Division – Makurdi: Covers Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States.
5. 6 Division – Port Harcourt: Covers Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.
6. 7 Division – Maiduguri: Covers Borno and Yobe States.
7. 8 Division – Sokoto: Covers Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States.
8. 9 Division – Ilorin: Covers Kwara and Niger States.
9. 10 Division – Jalingo: Covers Taraba and Adamawa States.
10. 81 Division – Lagos: Covers Lagos and Ogun States.
11. 82 Division – Enugu: Covers Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States.
12. 83 Division – Benin City: Covers Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States.
The implementation of the new force structure will be carried out in two phases.
The first phase, scheduled for completion by September 2026, will involve the establishment of the 5 Division in Makurdi, 9 Division in Ilorin, and 10 Division in Jalingo, alongside the reorganisation of existing military formations.
The second phase, expected to be concluded by December 2026, will focus on the establishment of the 83 Division in Benin City and additional restructuring of the Army’s operational formations.
The approval marks one of the most significant expansions of the Nigerian Army in recent years and is expected to boost troop strength, improve operational efficiency, and reinforce the military’s capacity to tackle insecurity across the country.
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