Nigerian Army Expands to 12 Divisions Amid Insecurity

The Nigerian Army (NA) is expanding from eight to 12 divisions as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration's strategy to enhance security in response to increasing insecurity across the country. This expansion includes the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel for the newly established divisions.

The new divisions consist of the 5th Division in Makurdi, addressing farmer-herder conflicts in North-central states; the 9th Division in Ilorin, focusing on banditry and cross-border crime in Kwara and Niger states; the 10th Division in Jalingo, tasked with securing borders and countering insurgency in Taraba and Adamawa; and the 83rd Division in Benin City, aimed at tackling oil bunkering and local militancy in Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa. The activation of the 5th, 9th, and 10th divisions is scheduled for September 2026, while the 83rd Division will become operational in December 2026.

This restructuring aims to improve military efficiency and address previous operational challenges, although experts caution against over-reliance on military solutions for security issues.