Tinubu expands army to 12 divisions, recruits 28,000 troops

President Tinubu has approved expanding the Nigerian Army from 8 to 12 divisions alongside a 28,000-personnel recruitment drive to strengthen border security and counter-insurgency operations.

President Bola Tinubu approved expanding the Nigerian Army from 8 to 12 divisions alongside a 28,000-personnel recruitment drive. Announced by Presidential Adviser Bayo Onanuga, the restructuring establishes four new divisional commands in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City. The two-phase expansion aims to decentralise command decision-making, strengthen border security and accelerate counter-insurgency response times across all geopolitical zones.

The expansion represents one of the most significant increases in the size of the Nigerian Army in recent history. The establishment of four new divisional commands will bring military leadership closer to the frontline, improving response times and operational effectiveness. The recruitment drive will address the army’s personnel shortages, which have been a persistent challenge in the fight against insurgency and banditry.

This echoes the 2010s military expansion under President Goodluck Jonathan, which also sought to strengthen the army’s capacity to confront Boko Haram. The mechanism then was different, but the result was the same: a recognition that the military must be expanded to meet the country’s security challenges.

The winners: the Nigerian Army, which gains new personnel and commands; and the Nigerian public, who may benefit from improved security. The losers: the Nigerian budget, which must fund the expansion; and the terrorists and bandits, who face a larger and more capable military.

Bottom Line: The army is expanding to 12 divisions and 28,000 new troops. The goal is to improve security. The question is whether the expansion will be accompanied by the equipment and training needed to be effective.