Precious Nwonu, Enugu
President Bola Tinubu has said the operationalisation of new Nigerian Army formations in Zamfara, Kebbi, Oyo and Osun states will strengthen the military’s ability to respond to security threats and protect vulnerable communities.
Tinubu disclosed this in a statement posted on his official X account on Sunday, as he highlighted measures by his administration to improve the operational capacity and welfare of the Armed Forces.
According to the President, positioning the new formations closer to communities would enable troops to respond more quickly when residents come under attack.
The development is part of a broader restructuring of the Nigerian Army. In July, Tinubu approved the expansion of the Army from eight to 12 divisions, alongside the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel and the acquisition of military equipment to strengthen national security operations.
Under the new structure, the Army has reorganised its areas of responsibility, with the 2 Division in Ibadan covering Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states, while the 8 Division in Sokoto is responsible for Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara.
Tinubu said the Federal Government was also accelerating the construction of new military barracks and depots in Abuja, Ekiti, Ebonyi and Kogi states, while the project in Osun State had been completed.
He said the infrastructure projects were necessary to improve the working and living conditions of military personnel and their families.
“As we demand more from our men and women in uniform, we must do more to support them and their families,” the President said.
Tinubu also pointed to the recent increase in military personnel’s salaries, saying feedback from servicemen and women indicated that the adjustment was improving their welfare.
The President stressed that military service affects not only personnel but also their families, particularly when troops are deployed away from home.
“Every deployment is a sacrifice made by a family too,” he said.
Tinubu added that, as Commander-in-Chief, he had a responsibility to ensure that members of the Armed Forces had the resources and support required to perform their duties.
The expansion of the Army’s structure comes amid continued security challenges in different parts of the country, including banditry, kidnapping and attacks on communities.
The Presidency had said the creation of the additional divisions was intended to enable the military to respond more rapidly to insecurity wherever it occurs.
The Army has also adopted a phased approach to operationalising the new structure, with newly established divisions expected to progressively attain initial and full operational capability.
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