President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT) has approved the establishment of the Nigerian Army’s 5 Division Headquarters in Makurdi, Benue State, as part of a major expansion of the Army’s operational structure aimed at strengthening national security and improving military response across the country.
The approval, announced in a State House press statement on Thursday, July 23, by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, forms part of the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions. Under the new structure, the 5 Division Headquarters in Makurdi will oversee military operations in Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states.
According to the statement, the creation of the Makurdi Division Headquarters is expected to improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security and enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure. It will also boost counter-insurgency and internal security operations while ensuring faster military responses to emerging security threats in the North Central region.
The Presidency stated that the establishment of the new divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City reflects President Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture and equipping the Armed Forces to tackle evolving security challenges more effectively.
It is understood that the expansion also includes the approval for the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, acquisition of critical military platforms and equipment, improvements in troop welfare, and sustained investments in operational readiness and force modernisation.
Implementation of the new force structure will be carried out in two phases. The first phase, which includes the establishment of the 5 Division Headquarters in Makurdi alongside the 9 and 10 Divisions, is expected to be completed by September 2026, while the second phase will conclude with the establishment of the 83 Division in Benin City by December 2026.
PBAT commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, as well as officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their dedication and professionalism, reaffirming his administration’s resolve to continue investing in the Armed Forces to ensure they remain fully equipped and capable of safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty and protecting the lives and property of citizens.
