Marking his first full year at the helm of the Nigerian Army, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, outlined a dramatic overhaul of the nation’s ground forces during a high-level strategic assessment address at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking to military commanders and security stakeholders on November 4, 2026, Lieutenant General Shaibu presented a comprehensive account of institutional reforms, structural expansions, and key operational milestones achieved since he officially assumed office as Nigeria’s 25th Chief of Army Staff on October 30, 2025.
​Central to his address was the execution of Presidential approval to expand the Nigerian Army’s structural command from eight to 12 operational divisions, a move designed to decisively counter complex security threats across the country.
The strategic expansion creates four new divisional headquarters, positioning 5 Division in Makurdi to oversee Benue, Nasarawa, and Kogi States; 9 Division in Ilorin to secure Kwara and key North-Central corridors; 10 Division in Jalingo to manage operations across Taraba and Adamawa States; and 83 Division in Benin City to direct security efforts across Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa States.
​To support this expanded command framework, Lieutenant General Shaibu confirmed the ongoing recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel. The massive recruitment intake is engineered to boost troop density in vulnerable operational zones, shorten crisis response times, and provide dedicated protection for vital civil and energy infrastructure nationwide.
​Reflecting on the achievements of his first 365 days, the Army Chief pointed to major advancements in operational intelligence and logistics, driven by the increased deployment of indigenous defense technology, tactical surveillance assets, and streamlined supply chains to frontline troops in the North-East, North-West, and Niger Delta.
The decentralisation of command through the appointment of new General Officers Commanding for the newly created divisions ensures that regional threats are managed directly at the point of origin.
Furthermore, the administration has prioritised capacity building and welfare by modernising training curricula at key institutions, including the Depot Nigerian Army in Zaria and the Nigerian Army School of Infantry in Jaji, while simultaneously upgrading personnel housing, healthcare facilities, and frontline compensation packages.
​Conveying the command’s vision during the briefing, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, emphasized the long-term strategic value of the ongoing operational shift.
​”The restructuring of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions and the recruitment of 28,000 personnel represent deliberate, forward-looking measures to ensure our troops maintain strategic superiority over emerging security threats,” Colonel Anele stated on behalf of the COAS.
“The Chief of Army Staff remains resolute in fostering an army built on character, integrity, operational readiness, and unalloyed loyalty to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
​Lieutenant General Shaibu concluded the session by reassuring the public that the secondary rollout of the expanded force structure will proceed according to schedule, ultimately establishing a more agile, modern, and responsive military presence across every geopolitical zone.
