President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions in a major overhaul of the country’s military structure aimed at strengthening national security and improving operational effectiveness.
The approval, announced on Thursday, July 23, 2026, is expected to enhance command and control, decentralise military operations, improve border security, and enable faster responses to emerging security threats across the country.
According to the statement, the move reflects President Tinubu’s commitment to equipping the Armed Forces to tackle Nigeria’s evolving security challenges and reinforce the nation’s defence architecture.
The expansion is part of the Federal Government’s broader investment in the military, which includes the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, the acquisition of critical military platforms and equipment, improvements in troop welfare, and continued support for force modernisation and operational readiness.
Under the new structure, the Nigerian Army will operate 12 divisions strategically located across the country. Existing divisions will remain in Kaduna, Ibadan, Jos, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Lagos and Enugu, while four new divisions will be established in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City.
The new arrangement places the 1 Division Headquarters in Kaduna to oversee Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states, while the 2 Division Headquarters in Ibadan will cover Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states. The 3 Division Headquarters in Jos will supervise Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states.
The newly created 5 Division Headquarters in Makurdi will be responsible for Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states, while the 6 Division Headquarters in Port Harcourt will oversee Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states. The 7 Division Headquarters in Maiduguri will continue to cover Borno and Yobe states, and the 8 Division Headquarters in Sokoto will oversee Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
Similarly, the new 9 Division Headquarters in Ilorin will cover Kwara and Niger states, while the 10 Division Headquarters in Jalingo will oversee Taraba and Adamawa states. The 81 Division Headquarters in Lagos will remain responsible for Lagos and Ogun states, the 82 Division Headquarters in Enugu will supervise Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo states, while the newly established 83 Division Headquarters in Benin City will oversee Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states.
The Presidency said the creation of the new divisions would significantly improve operational efficiency by strengthening command and control, decentralising decision-making, enhancing counter-insurgency and internal security operations, protecting critical national infrastructure, and boosting border security.
Implementation of the new force structure will be carried out in two phases. The first phase, involving the establishment of the 5, 9 and 10 Divisions and the reorganisation of existing formations, is expected to be completed by September 2026. The second phase, which includes the establishment of the 83 Division and further 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 dedication, professionalism and commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustained investment in the Armed Forces, ensuring they remain adequately equipped, highly motivated, and capable of safeguarding the nation and protecting all Nigerians.
