President Tinubu Approves 12‑Division Army Expansion and 28,000 New Troops

President Bola Tinubu announced a major restructuring of the Nigerian Army, increasing its formations from eight to twelve divisions and authorising the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel. The four new divisions will be headquartered in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City, bringing command structures closer to operational theatres and improving border security, counter‑insurgency and rapid response capabilities. Implementation will occur in two phases, with the first phase slated for completion by September 2026 and the second by December 2026.

In a separate address, Tinubu urged Nigerian medical professionals living abroad to return home, saying “I’ve been through that journey. I’m home, and I can tell you, there’s nowhere like home.” He framed the appeal as part of his Renewed Hope agenda, emphasizing that diaspora doctors’ expertise is essential for rebuilding Nigeria’s health sector and combating poverty.

The combined initiatives aim to strengthen national security and public‑health capacity amid ongoing violence from insurgent groups, bandits and kidnappers across the country.