Nigeria's President Approves Largest Military Expansion in Recent Times



Three Nigerian soldiers loading guns
The new army divisions will lead to better coordination and faster response times, the government says


In a decisive move, President Bola Tinubu has greenlit the recruitment of 28,000 soldiers and the creation of four new army divisions, bringing Nigeria’s forces to a total of 12. This expansion is the biggest in recent history and is aimed at tackling the violence from militant Islamists, separatists and armed gangs that have sparked kidnappings and attacks across the country.



  • 28,000 new recruits will join the army.

  • Four new divisions will be formed to enhance rapid response.

  • Three new headquarters will be set up in the north‑east and central regions.

  • A record 5.41 tn naira ($4 bn) has been allocated to defence and security.

  • A plan to recruit 50,000 new police officers has been announced.


Security experts warn that convincing young Nigerians to join the army will be challenging amid recent fatalities of servicemen, but the government insists the expansion will deliver improved coordination, intelligence sharing and faster deployment in the face of persistent attacks.


The announcement followed President Tinubu’s directive that armed groups should "surrender or face the full force" of the state, and it comes after a joint US‑Nigerian operation that targeted militants in the north‑west on Christmas Day.


Despite these efforts, Islamist groups, including the Islamic State’s Nigerian branch, continue to carry out attacks, underscoring the need for the expanded military structure.


Published 15 minutes ago