Nigeria Approves Largest Military Expansion in Recent History: 28,000 New Soldiers, Four Army Divisions

President Bola Tinubu approved Nigeria's largest military expansion in recent times on July 24, 2026, authorising 28,000 new soldiers and four army divisions, bringing the total to 12. The move addresses a division structure stretched across vast multi-state areas. It follows a November 2025 security emergency declaration amid kidnappings, bandit attacks, and insurgent activity across multiple regions.