Nigeria's president approves largest military expansion in recent times


Three Nigerian soldiers wearing army fatigues appear to load their guns
The new army divisions will lead to better coordination and faster response times, the government says

Bola Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 28,000 new soldiers and the creation of four new army divisions, bringing the total number of divisions to 12. The move is aimed at countering an escalation of violence from militant Islamist groups, separatists, and bandit gangs that routinely kidnap civilians and attack communities across Nigeria.


The decision follows a spate of brutal incidents, including the killing of at least 20 villagers in Zamfara and the abduction of 46 schoolchildren in Borno last week. While army rescues have, in some cases, stopped attacks, the cost to life and security remains high.


The government said the new divisions will improve coordination, intelligence sharing and response times, relieving overstretched units that cover vast areas from one state to another.


In addition to the division expansion, three new army headquarters are to be set up in the northeast and central regions—areas still plagued by insurgent activity and clashes over resources. The security plan also includes the recruitment of tens of thousands of new soldiers, although analysts warn that convincing young Nigerians to join will be challenging given recent army casualties.


President Tinubu’s broader security strategy in the March speech pledged over 50,000 new police officers and a record allocation of 5.41 trillion naira ($4 bn) to defense and security for the fiscal year, underscoring the urgency of the situation.


The expansion comes amid ongoing joint US‑Nigerian operations targeting jihadist groups in the country’s northwest, and the recent neutralisation of senior ISIS‑Al‑Minuki leader Abu‑Bilal al‑Minuki, signalling a persistent but evolving threat across Nigeria.


These steps represent the country’s largest military build‑up in recent years, aiming to stem rising violence and restore stability to millions of Nigerians who have lived in fear for decades.