Tinubu Approves Expansion of Nigerian Army to 12 Divisions and 28,000 New Recruits

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a major restructuring of the Nigerian Army, expanding its structure from eight to twelve divisions. This move comes with the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel to strengthen national defence and address evolving security challenges. Under the new structure, divisions will be strategically headquartered in Kaduna, Ibadan, Jos, Makurdi, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Ilorin, Jalingo, Lagos, Enugu and Benin City, each covering specific states across the country. The additional divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City aim to decentralise command, boost border security and ensure faster response to emerging threats. Implementation will occur in two phases: the first phase, covering the establishment of the 5th, 9th and 10th Divisions and reorganisation of existing formations, is set to conclude by September 2026. The second phase, including the creation of the 83rd Division and further restructuring, will wrap up by December 2026. The President commended the Chief of Army Staff and all soldiers for their dedication while reaffirming ongoing investments in troop welfare and force modernisation.

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