Abuja: Former Director of Defence of Information, retired Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, has stated that the expansion of the Nigerian Army to 12 divisions will significantly bolster national security and operational effectiveness.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu approved the army’s expansion from eight to 12 divisions and authorized the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel. This move aims to address evolving security challenges across the nation. Olukolade described the decision as timely and strategic, reflecting the government’s commitment to enhancing military capacity against Nigeria’s complex security threats.
Olukolade emphasized that the new force structure would extend operational coverage through additional divisions, brigades, battalions, and troops. This expansion will enable the Army to maintain a stronger presence in vulnerable areas, bringing in additional equipment, combat platforms, and operational vehicles to boost the Army’s firepower, mobility, and overall operational reach.
He noted that the Nigerian Army has been operationally overstretched for years due to multiple internal security operations across various theatres nationwide. The introduction of new divisions is expected to reduce prolonged deployments, allowing for more frequent troop rotations, adequate rest periods, and retraining to enhance morale and combat effectiveness.
The retired general highlighted that additional formations would ensure quicker military response to attacks, particularly in ungoverned spaces and remote communities facing persistent security threats. Permanent Forward Operating Bases can now be established in strategic locations like Sambisa Forest, Lake Chad Basin, North-West forests, and the Oke-Ogun corridor, instead of relying on distant deployments.
Olukolade further mentioned that more divisional headquarters would strengthen civil-military relations by bringing military leadership closer to local communities affected by insecurity across the country. This arrangement is expected to improve intelligence gathering, early warning systems, and operational coordination among the military, Police, NSCDC, and other security agencies.