Nigeria's president approves largest military expansion in recent times

What the report says

BBC Africa reports that Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has approved what it describes as the country’s biggest military expansion in recent times, as his administration faces mounting pressure over persistent violence by armed groups. The plan authorises the recruitment of 28,000 additional soldiers and creates four new army divisions, increasing the total number of divisions to 12.

The government says the new structure is intended to improve command coordination, intelligence flow and response times. BBC Africa reported that existing army divisions have been responsible for very large areas across multiple states, stretching personnel and equipment during repeated attacks. Three new army headquarters are also planned for parts of north-eastern and central Nigeria, regions affected by jihadist activity, banditry and farmer-herder violence.

The expansion follows recent incidents including the killing of at least 20 villagers in Zamfara state and the abduction of 46 students in Borno state, who were later rescued by the army, according to the BBC report. The security crisis involves a mix of militant Islamist groups, separatists and ransom-seeking gangs, with violence also reaching parts of southern Nigeria; the BBC cited the May abduction of 44 pupils and teachers in Oyo state.

BBC Africa also noted possible recruitment difficulties, with security experts warning that recent military casualties may deter young Nigerians from enlisting. The move comes alongside Tinubu’s earlier pledge to expand policing by more than 50,000 officers and a proposed 5.41 trillion naira defence and security budget. The BBC added that, despite recent US-Nigeria operations against jihadist groups, militant attacks have continued.