President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to twelve divisions as part of a major effort to strengthen Nigeria's security architecture and improve the Army's operational effectiveness across the country.
The approval, announced in a State House press release on Thursday, also includes the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, alongside continued investments in military equipment, troop welfare, operational readiness, and force modernisation.
According to the Presidency, the expanded structure is designed to enhance command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, improve border security, protect critical national infrastructure, and boost counter-insurgency as well as other internal security operations.
New Nigerian Army Divisions and Areas of Responsibility
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 Presidency stated that the establishment of the new divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City will ensure quicker military response to emerging security threats while strengthening the Army's operational capacity nationwide.
Implementation of the restructuring will take place in two phases. The first phase, covering the establishment of the 5, 9 and 10 Divisions, together with the reorganisation of existing formations, is expected to be completed by September 2026. The second phase, involving the establishment of the 83 Division and additional restructuring, is scheduled for completion by December 2026.
President Tinubu commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, as well as officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their professionalism, dedication and commitment to defending Nigeria's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He reaffirmed his administration's commitment to sustained investment in the Armed Forces to ensure they remain well-equipped, highly motivated and fully capable of safeguarding the lives, property and security of all Nigerians.
Source: State House Press Release signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, dated 23 July 2026.
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