Shehu Urges FG to Fix Military Gaps Before New Divisions

Group Captain Sadeeq Shehu (retd.), a former spokesman for the Nigerian Air Force, has urged the Federal Government to prioritize addressing existing deficiencies in the military before moving forward with plans to create four additional divisions of the Nigerian Army. President Bola Tinubu recently approved the establishment of these divisions, which will increase the total from eight to twelve, with locations in Makurdi (Benue State), Ilorin (Kwara State), Jalingo (Taraba State), and Benin City (Edo State).

These new formations are intended to enhance military presence in vulnerable areas and improve operational coordination against security threats, coinciding with the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel. Shehu emphasized the need to evaluate the operational readiness of the current divisions and address concerns regarding overstretched troops and equipment shortages.

He cautioned against political motivations influencing the establishment of military formations, advocating for a focus on meeting established standards for personnel and equipment.