Nigeria Orders Its Biggest Military Expansion in Years

On July 24, 2026, Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu ordered 28,000 new soldiers and created four new army divisions — large groups of troops organized by region. That brings Nigeria to 12 divisions total, helping cover huge areas that were stretched thin. The move follows a November 2025 emergency declaration over kidnappings, bandit attacks, and rebel violence across several regions.