Abuja, Nigeria (Running Africa) — Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a major expansion of the Nigerian Army, increasing its strength from eight to 12 divisions and authorizing the recruitment of 28,000 additional military personnel as the government intensifies efforts to tackle the country’s escalating security challenges.

The expansion forms part of a broader military modernization program aimed at improving operational effectiveness, strengthening troop deployment and enhancing national security across multiple conflict zones.

Four New Army Divisions Approved

Under the new structure, the Nigerian Army will establish four new divisions in:

• Makurdi
• Ilorin
• Jalingo
• Benin City

The new formations are expected to improve military coverage across central, northeastern and southern Nigeria, while the army will maintain its existing headquarters in eight other strategic locations nationwide.

According to the presidency, the expansion will be rolled out in two phases to ensure a smooth transition and effective deployment of personnel and resources.

28,000 New Soldiers to Strengthen Security Operations

As part of the overhaul, the federal government has approved the recruitment of 28,000 additional soldiers to reinforce ongoing military operations.

The initiative is designed to increase troop strength, improve rapid response capabilities and expand the military’s capacity to address multiple security threats simultaneously.

Officials also confirmed increased investment in modern military equipment, operational readiness, training programs and troop welfare, signaling a long-term commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s armed forces.

New Divisions to Become Operational This Year

The government expects the expansion to progress rapidly.

According to the implementation timeline:

• The 5th Division
• The 9th Division
• The 10th Division

are expected to become operational by September 2026.

Meanwhile, the newly created 83rd Division in Benin City is scheduled to begin operations by December 2026.

Expansion Targets Nigeria’s Growing Security Challenges

The military expansion comes as Nigeria continues to confront multiple security threats across different regions of the country.

In the northeast, security forces remain engaged in a prolonged fight against Islamist insurgent groups, while northwestern and north-central Nigeria continue to experience widespread banditry, kidnappings for ransom and attacks on rural communities.

Elsewhere, authorities are also managing communal violence, organized criminal activity and separatist unrest in parts of southern Nigeria.

Strengthening National Security

The expansion represents one of the most significant military restructuring efforts undertaken in recent years and underscores the Tinubu administration’s determination to improve Nigeria’s security architecture.

By increasing troop numbers, expanding operational coverage and investing in modern capabilities, the government aims to strengthen the military’s ability to respond to evolving threats while improving stability across Africa’s most populous nation.