President Tinubu Authorises Nigeria’s Largest Military Expansion

Sun Sep 06 2026 03:24:56 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

President Bola Tinubu greenlights 28,000 new soldiers and 4 more army divisions amid rising violence from militants and bandits across Nigeria

President Bola Tinubu has approved a sweeping military expansion, recruiting 28,000 soldiers and adding four new divisions, bringing the total to 12. The move follows a spate of violence—including a gang‑run massacre in Zamfara and the rescue of 46 schoolchildren in Borno—highlighting the urgent need for better coordination and faster response times. The new units will focus on high‑risk zones such as north‑east, central and Niger‑Delta Nigeria, where insurgents, separatists and bandit gangs have intensified operations. Alongside the expansion, Tinubu has committed 5.41 trillion naira to defence and warned armed groups to surrender or face the state’s full force.

President Tinubu Authorises Nigeria’s Largest Military Expansion

In a landmark move aimed at tightening security across the nation, President Bola Tinubu approved the recruitment of 28,000 new soldiers and the creation of four additional army divisions, bringing the total to 12.

Three Nigerian soldiers wearing army fatigues appear to load their guns

The decision comes amid a worsening security crisis, with Islamist militants, separatist insurgents and bandit gangs increasingly destabilising both north‑western Zamfara and north‑eastern Borno.

Since last month, the army rescued 46 schoolchildren abducted in Borno, while a gang in Zamfara killed at least 20 villagers. Police officers and army forces have intensified operations, but the threat of armed groups grows as they become more sophisticated.

The new divisions are intended to improve coordination, intelligence sharing and quicker response times, especially in high‑risk regions such as the Niger‑Delta, north‑east and central Nigeria.

President Tinubu has already pledged 5.41 trillion naira for defence in the annual budget and declared that armed groups must “surrender or face the full force of the state.”