[REVISION HISTORY]

Nigeria army expansion and pay rise under Tinubu

Updated 17 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-08 12:03 UTC → 2026-08-26 21:23 UTC · added ~~removed~~

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s security overhaul continued through 2026. ~~After~~ Following the 26 July 2024 approval of a ~~28,000‑troop increase and four new divisional headquarters,~~ 28,000-troop increase, the army moved toward a ~~twelve‑division~~ twelve-division structure. By late July ~~2026~~ 2026, the restructuring was ~~formalised: the twelve‑division layout was confirmed, adding 28,000 soldiers and establishing~~ formalised with new headquarters in Ilorin, Jalingo, Benin ~~City~~ City, and ~~a fourth in~~ Makurdi. ~~The same day four additional divisions were created,~~ State leaders have responded to ~~be based~~ these changes; Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba pledged land and facilities for the 10th Division in ~~Benue,~~ Jalingo to improve border security, while Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue praised the 5th Division in Makurdi. In Kwara, ~~Taraba~~ local leaders welcomed a new battalion in Omu-Aran, and ~~Edo states, accompanied by~~ in Edo, advocacy groups commended the ~~launch~~ establishment of an the 83 Division in Benin City for enhancing surveillance in the South-South region. To support this expansion, the government launched the Office of Homeland Security and the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Institute of Technology in ~~Kaduna, aimed at boosting self‑reliance in~~ Kaduna to foster defence ~~production. The expansion was funded~~ self-reliance. While analysts warned that inadequate funding and logistics could hinder combat effectiveness, the reforms were backed by a ~~record defence budget of~~ 5.41 trillion naira (≈US$4 billion) and linked to a $3.05 billion social‑protection package. On 4 August 2026 the Unity Advocacy Group praised the reforms for improving command, rapid deployment and intelligence against banditry, kidnapping and terrorism. defence budget. On 1 September ~~2026~~ 2026, a new salary structure ~~took effect~~ for ~~about~~ approximately 250,000 ~~personnel, raising~~ personnel took effect. The adjustment raised pay by ~~30 %~~ 30% for senior ~~officers~~ officers, 50% for personnel from colonel to warrant officer, and up to ~~80 %~~ 80% for privates and staff sergeants, ~~lifting~~ increasing the annual wage bill to N924 billion. The ~~reforms received commendation from~~ Society Security Initiative called the pay rise a “significant morale booster,” and the House ~~of Representatives~~ Committee on ~~Defence, chaired by Benson Babajimi, which called~~ Defence described the overhaul as historic and essential for ~~morale, retention and~~ operational ~~efficiency, and highlighted~~ efficiency. The presidency also rejected speculation that the ~~broader welfare package for all armed‑forces personnel. On 29 July 2026 Tinubu authorised~~ division expansion was linked to any coup plots, maintaining the creation of four new divisions, assigning them as 5 Division (Makurdi), 6 Division (Port Harcourt), 7 Division (Maiduguri), 8 Division (Sokoto), 9 Division (Ilorin) and 10 Division (Jalingo). General Officers Commanding changes were ~~appointed, including Maj Gen Yakubu Yahaya for the 9 Division.~~ driven solely by security needs.

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