Tinubu Approves 12-Division Army Structure, 28,000 New Recruits

President Bola Tinubu has approved a new Nigerian Army structure that will expand the force from eight divisions to 12, alongside the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel.

The Presidency said the move is meant to strengthen the Army’s spread across the country and improve its response to security threats. Reports citing presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said the approval also covers fresh equipment, troop welfare measures and support for force modernisation.

Under the new arrangement, the existing 1 Division in Kaduna, 2 Division in Ibadan, 3 Division in Jos, 6 Division in Port Harcourt, 7 Division in Maiduguri, 8 Division in Sokoto, 81 Division in Lagos and 82 Division in Enugu will be joined by four new formations.

The new divisions are listed as 4 Division in Benin, 5 Division in Kano, 9 Division in Makurdi and 10 Division in Maiduguri. The Presidency said each division will cover defined operational areas and work with other security agencies.

The expansion comes as the military continues operations against banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and communal violence in different parts of the country. Security analysts and communities have repeatedly complained about overstretched troop deployments, especially in rural areas where attacks can happen far from permanent military bases.

The new recruitment figure is separate from the restructuring itself. It is expected to give the Army more manpower for the additional formations, though the Presidency did not give a full timetable for when the recruits will be absorbed or when the new divisions will become fully operational.

Sources: Daily Post, Punch, Daily Trust, Premium Times, Channels TV