Chioma Vivian James
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has approved a far-reaching expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to twelve divisions, marking one of the most significant military restructuring initiatives in recent years aimed at strengthening national security and enhancing operational effectiveness across the country.
The approval reflects the President’s commitment to building a more responsive, better-equipped, and highly professional Armed Forces capable of addressing Nigeria’s evolving security challenges, safeguarding territorial integrity, and protecting citizens nationwide.
As part of the administration’s comprehensive defence modernisation agenda, President Tinubu has also approved the recruitment of 28,000 additional military personnel, alongside continued investments in advanced military platforms, combat equipment, troop welfare, training, operational readiness, and force modernisation.
Under the new force structure, the Nigerian Army will operate twelve divisions strategically located across the federation to improve command efficiency, operational coordination, and rapid response capabilities.
The divisions and their areas of responsibility are as follows:
• 1 Division Headquarters – Kaduna (Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States)
• 2 Division Headquarters – Ibadan (Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States)
• 3 Division Headquarters – Jos (Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States)
• 5 Division Headquarters – Makurdi (Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States)
• 6 Division Headquarters – Port Harcourt (Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States)
• 7 Division Headquarters – Maiduguri (Borno and Yobe States)
• 8 Division Headquarters – Sokoto (Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States)
• 9 Division Headquarters – Ilorin (Kwara and Niger States)
• 10 Division Headquarters – Jalingo (Taraba and Adamawa States)
• 81 Division Headquarters – Lagos (Lagos and Ogun States)
• 82 Division Headquarters – Enugu (Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States)
• 83 Division Headquarters – Benin City (Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States)
The creation of new divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City is expected to significantly strengthen command and control structures, decentralise operational decision-making, bolster border security, enhance the protection of critical national assets, improve counter-insurgency and internal security operations, and ensure faster military responses to emerging threats across the federation.
Implementation of the new structure will be executed in two phases. The first phase, involving the establishment of the 5, 9 and 10 Divisions and the reorganisation of existing formations, is scheduled for completion by September 2026. The second phase, which includes the establishment of the 83 Division and further force restructuring, is expected to be completed by December 2026.
President Tinubu commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, and officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their professionalism, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication to the defence of Nigeria.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to sustain investments in the Armed Forces to ensure they remain well-equipped, highly motivated, combat-ready, and capable of guaranteeing the safety, security, and prosperity of all Nigerians.
