Nigeria’s Largest Army Expansion: 28,000 New Soldiers Added

Sun Sep 06 2026 12:40:35 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Nigeria’s president boosts army by adding 28,000 soldiers and 4 new divisions to fight rising violence and terrorism.

President Bola Tinubu authorised Nigeria’s biggest military buildup in recent history, adding 28,000 troops and creating four new army divisions. The move aims to improve coordination, intelligence sharing and response to escalating violence from Islamist militants, bandits and separatists. By opening new headquarters in the north‑east and central Nigeria, the military wants to cover high‑risk areas more effectively. Despite increased forces, recruitment remains a challenge because many young Nigerians fear combat losses.

Nigeria’s Largest Army Expansion: 28,000 New Soldiers Added

Three Nigerian soldiers loading guns — Three Nigerian soldiers in uniform load their weapons, in preparation for new army duties.

Nigeria’s president Bola Tinubu has greenlit an unprecedented military expansion. 28,000 extra soldiers will be recruited, and four new army divisions will bring the total to 12.

The move comes as the country faces violence from Islamist militants, bandits and separatist groups that have taken hostages, raided villages and kidnapped students. Recent attacks in Zamfara and Borno states highlighted the urgent need for a stronger response.

The new divisions are designed to improve coordination, share intelligence quickly and enable faster response times across large areas that current units must patrol. New headquarters are also set up in the north‑east and central provinces – key hotspots for armed gangs and militias.

While the army’s expansion signals a serious commitment to security, experts note that recruiting young Nigerians can be tough given the high casualty rates in recent months. Tinubu’s budget also added 50,000 police officers and allocated a record 5.41 tn naira ($4 bn) to defence.

The expansion is part of a broader strategy that has also seen US‑Nigerian operations crack down on jihadist groups like the Lakurawa band on Christmas Day, as well as targeted strikes against IS leaders in the region.