By Dele Moses
President Bola Tinubu has approved creation of four new divisions for the Nigerian Army making the Army’s divisions to be expanded from eight to twelve.
The approval which is contained in a state house statement issued today by the Special Adviser to the President on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, was made alongside approval for recruitment of 28, 000 military personnel.
The new divisions are to be located in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin city.
The one at Makurdi which is to be known as “5 Division” covers Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states while that of Ilorin which is to be known as “9 Division” covers Kwara and Niger states.
The division at Jalingo is to be known as “10 Division” and it covers Taraba and Adamawa states while that of Benin city is to be known as “83 Division” and it covers Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states.
The state house statement described expansion of the divisions as a landmark move to enhance the country’s security architecture and improve the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army
The statement said the approval of the new divisions underscores the President’s unwavering commitment to equipping the Armed Forces to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges effectively and to strengthen national defence capabilities further.
It disclosed that the expansion of the division would to be carried out in two phases with those of the 59 and 10 Divisions expected to be completed by September while that of 83 Division is expected to be completed by December
The statement reads: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army’s structure from eight to twelve divisions— a landmark move to enhance the country’s security architecture and improve the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army
“This approval underscores the President’s unwavering commitment to equipping the Armed Forces to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges effectively and to strengthen national defence capabilities further.
“The expansion builds on the Administration’s sustained investments in the Armed Forces, including approval for the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, acquisition of critical military platforms and equipment, improvements in troop welfare, and ongoing support for operational readiness and force modernisation.
“Under the new structure, the Nigerian Army will operate twelve divisions, strategically positioned across the country as follows:
“1. 1 Division Headquarters – Kaduna (Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States)
2. 2 Division Headquarters – Ibadan (Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States)
3. 3 Division Headquarters – Jos (Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States)
4. 5 Division Headquarters – Makurdi (Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States)
5. 6 Division Headquarters – Port Harcourt (Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States)
6. 7 Division Headquarters – Maiduguri (Borno and Yobe States)
7. 8 Division Headquarters – Sokoto (Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States)
8. 9 Division Headquarters – Ilorin (Kwara and Niger States)
9. 10 Division Headquarters – Jalingo (Taraba and Adamawa States)
10. 81 Division Headquarters – Lagos (Lagos and Ogun States)
11. 82 Division Headquarters – Enugu (Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States)
12. 83 Division Headquarters – Benin City (Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States).
“The establishment of the new Divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City will significantly improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure, improve counter-insurgency and internal security operations, and ensure faster military response to emerging threats nationwide.
“Implementation of the new force structure will be done in two phases. The first phase, covering the establishment of the 5, 9, and 10 Divisions and the reorganisation of existing formations, will be completed by September 2026. The second phase, involving the establishment of the 83 Division and further reorganisation, is expected to be completed by December 2026.
“President Tinubu commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, and all officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their dedication, professionalism, and steadfast commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“The President reaffirmed his Administration’s determination to continue investing in the Armed Forces, ensuring they remain adequately equipped, highly motivated, and fully capable of protecting the nation and guaranteeing the safety and security of all Nigerians.
