The Presidency has rejected claims that the Federal Government’s decision to establish more Army divisions is connected to concerns about a possible military takeover or President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s political plans ahead of the 2027 elections.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, explained that the restructuring of the Nigerian Army was primarily driven by the country’s changing security environment and the need to address gaps in the nation’s military infrastructure.
Speaking in an interview, Ajayi said the administration inherited a security system that was largely designed many decades ago. According to him, the structures that may have been adequate when they were established are no longer sufficient to deal with the scale and nature of the threats confronting Nigeria today.
He maintained that the government’s decision to increase the number of Army formations is part of a broader strategy to strengthen national defence, improve the deployment of personnel and ensure that troops can respond more effectively to emergencies.
The presidential aide pointed to Tinubu’s campaign commitments, noting that the President had promised to increase the number of personnel available to tackle security threats while simultaneously improving military equipment, technology and operational capabilities.
Ajayi stressed that the expansion should therefore not be interpreted as preparation for a political crisis or an attempt to guard against a coup.
He argued that placing military formations closer to areas affected by insecurity would allow commanders to respond to incidents more rapidly, rather than depending on formations located hundreds of kilometres away.
According to him, the restructuring would make it easier for the Armed Forces to coordinate operations across different parts of the country, particularly in areas that have experienced persistent security challenges.
He explained that the government was also expanding the country’s military recruitment and training infrastructure to support the increase in personnel.
Ajayi revealed that approximately 50,000 new personnel had been recruited into the three branches of the Armed Forces over the past three years. He added that plans were already underway to enlist another 28,000 personnel as part of efforts to strengthen the military.
The presidential aide further disclosed that three additional Army training facilities had been established in Kogi, Ebonyi and Osogbo. These centres are expected to complement the long-standing Nigerian Army training facility in Zaria.
He said each of the newly established depots could accommodate between 5,000 and 6,000 recruits at the same time, thereby significantly expanding the military’s capacity to train new personnel.
Ajayi attributed the need for the expansion to Nigeria’s growing population and the increasing complexity of its security challenges. He noted that several military facilities currently in use were constructed during earlier decades and were never designed to accommodate the country’s present population or security demands.
According to him, many of the existing facilities have become overstretched, making investment in new infrastructure unavoidable.
He stressed that the government’s approach involves more than simply increasing troop numbers, as the administration is also focused on acquiring modern weapons, surveillance systems, technology and other military assets.
The presidential spokesman maintained that the ongoing reforms were consistent with commitments Tinubu made during his election campaign.
He reiterated that the central objective was to build a stronger and more responsive security architecture capable of protecting Nigerians and dealing with emerging threats.
The Presidency therefore urged Nigerians to view the Army expansion primarily as a security and institutional reform measure rather than as evidence of preparations for a military coup or a political confrontation ahead of the 2027 elections.
