Nigeria’s security architecture is set for a major overhaul following President Bola Tinubu’s approval to expand the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions.
The decision also includes the recruitment of 28,000 new personnel as part of efforts to strengthen the military’s ability to respond to the country’s growing security concerns.
The move is aimed at equipping the armed forces with greater manpower and operational capacity to address threats across different parts of the country.
Retired General Welcomes the Decision
Former Director of Defence Information, retired Major-General Chris Olukolade, has praised the federal government’s decision, describing it as a significant step toward improving national security.
According to him, the expansion reflects a clear commitment by the government to reinforce the military’s capabilities as it confronts increasingly complex and widespread security challenges.
Olukolade said the additional divisions would provide the Army with the resources needed to maintain a stronger presence in areas that remain vulnerable to criminal and insurgent activities.
Wider Operational Reach Expected
The retired military officer explained that the creation of four new divisions would naturally lead to more brigades, battalions and troop deployments across the country.
He noted that the restructuring would also come with increased military hardware, including additional combat equipment, operational vehicles and other assets capable of improving the Army’s mobility and firepower.
These improvements, he said, would enable security forces to respond more effectively to emerging threats while extending military coverage into regions that currently require greater protection.
Relief for Overstretched Troops
Olukolade observed that the Nigerian Army has spent years operating under intense pressure due to simultaneous security operations in multiple regions.
He believes the expansion will ease that burden by allowing more regular troop rotations, giving soldiers adequate time to rest, recover and undergo further training before returning to active duty.
He added that improving troop welfare in this way would enhance morale while ensuring personnel remain physically and mentally prepared for demanding operations.
Faster Deployment to High-Risk Areas
The former defence spokesman also said the larger force structure would improve response times during security emergencies, particularly in remote and difficult-to-access locations.
He suggested that the Army would now be in a stronger position to establish permanent Forward Operating Bases in strategic areas such as Sambisa Forest, the Lake Chad Basin, forests in the North-West and the Oke-Ogun corridor, reducing the need for lengthy deployments from distant military formations.
Such permanent bases, he argued, would allow troops to react more quickly whenever attacks occur.
Stronger Community Engagement and Intelligence
Beyond military operations, Olukolade believes the expansion will strengthen relationships between security forces and local communities.
With more divisional headquarters spread across the country, military leadership would be closer to communities affected by insecurity, creating better opportunities for cooperation and trust-building.
He added that the closer presence of military commanders would improve intelligence gathering, strengthen early warning systems and enhance coordination between the Nigerian Army, the Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other security agencies involved in protecting lives and property.
