The Nigerian Army has commenced steps to operationalise four newly created divisions as part of a broad force restructuring aimed at expanding operational capacity and tackling insecurity across the country. Following approval from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the army’s structure is expanding from 8 to 12 divisions.
Breakdown of the 4 New Divisions
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5 Division Headquarters (Makurdi, Benue State)
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Coverage: Benue, Nasarawa, and Kogi States.
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Focus: Countering communal clashes, armed groups, and banditry across the North-Central region.
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9 Division Headquarters (Ilorin, Kwara State)
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Coverage: Kwara and Niger States.
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Focus: Addressing rising security challenges, including banditry and kidnapping along vulnerable corridors.
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10 Division Headquarters (Jalingo, Taraba State)
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Coverage: Taraba and Adamawa States.
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Focus: Reinforcing border security and counter-insurgency operations in the wider North-East.
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83 Division Headquarters (Benin City, Edo State)
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Coverage: Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa States.
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Focus: Safeguarding critical national infrastructure and internal security across the Niger Delta corridor.
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Implementation Timeline & Support Measures
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Phased Rollout: Phase 1 covers the operationalisation of the 5, 9, and 10 Divisions (targeted for completion by September 2026), while Phase 2 will establish the 83 Division in Benin City by December 2026.
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Manpower Expansion: The restructuring is backed by the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel.
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General Officers Commanding (GOCs): Initial Operational Capability (IOC) moves are underway, with implementation committees visiting sites across host states to inspect temporary bases and permanent barracks locations.
