Nigerian Army adds 8,000 troops, plans 28,000 recruits and reshuffles senior commanders

The Nigerian Army graduated more than 8,000 newly trained soldiers in a passing-out parade at the Depot Nigerian Army in Osogbo, bolstering its force for ongoing operations against terrorism, insurgency, banditry and kidnapping. The graduation supports President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to recruit an additional 28,000 personnel, a target the army aims to meet by expanding training capacity with a third depot at Amasiri Edda and establishing new brigades and units.

Concurrently, the army announced a sweeping senior‑officer reshuffle approved by Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu. New appointments include Major General WM Dangana as GOC 3 Division and commander of Joint Task Force Enduring Peace, Major General EI Okoro as GOC 6 Division and commander of Joint Task Force Delta Safe, and Major General SA Emmanuel as commander of the Nigerian Army Space Command, among numerous other postings across training institutions and corporate bodies.

The changes were highlighted during the 163rd Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL 2026), themed “Protecting the Nation and Serving the People,” where the COAS emphasized a “Soldier‑First” culture, technology‑driven warfare and regional cooperation, including the upcoming African Land Forces Forum.