Tinubu Expands Nigerian Army to 12 Divisions, Adds 28,000 Personnel

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has approved a significant expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to twelve divisions. This decision aims to enhance the country's security architecture and improve the operational effectiveness of the Army.

The expansion includes the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel and is part of the Administration's ongoing investments in the Armed Forces. The twelve divisions will be strategically located across Nigeria, with headquarters in cities such as Kaduna, Ibadan, Jos, Makurdi, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Ilorin, Jalingo, Lagos, Enugu, and Benin City.

The establishment of new divisions will decentralize operational decision-making, strengthen border security, and improve counter-insurgency operations. The implementation will occur in two phases, with the first phase expected to be completed by September 2026 and the second phase by December 2026.

President Tinubu commended Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu and the Army for their dedication to defending Nigeria's sovereignty.