A former Director of Army Public Relations, retired Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, has said the planned expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions will enhance national security.
He however said that this is only if it was backed by adequate funding, equipment and wider security sector reforms.
Usman said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, while reacting to President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the expansion of the Nigerian Army’s operational formations.
Tinubu had approved the expansion alongside the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel to boost the army’s operational capacity against insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other emerging threats.
The new structure creates divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin, while reorganising existing formations to improve command and control, strengthen border security, decentralise decision-making and enhance rapid response to security threats.
The implementation will be carried out in two phases, with the first phase expected to be completed in September, while the second will be in December.
The former army spokesman described the decision as timely and long overdue, adding that Nigeria’s growing population, vast territory and evolving security threats justified the increase in the army’s order of battle.
According to him, the army has already expanded its training institutions in recent years, making it necessary to create additional operational formations to absorb newly trained personnel.
He however, warned that establishing new divisional headquarters alone would not solve the country’s security challenges.
Usman said the expansion must be complemented with barracks, accommodation, weapons, armoured vehicles, artillery, communication equipment, transport assets and robust logistics support.
He added that the recruitment and training of about 28,000 additional personnel would also require significant investment in manpower development and welfare.
“The expansion is a welcome development, but funding will determine its success. It must be supported with adequate resources to achieve the desired objectives,” he said.
Usman expressed confidence that the Federal Government would provide the necessary resources, having initiated the expansion programme.
He said the additional divisions would improve troop deployment, shorten response time and enhance the military’s ability to deny terrorists, bandits and kidnappers freedom of movement.
The retired general noted that some of the new divisions would emerge through the restructuring of existing formations rather than the establishment of entirely new military structures.
He stressed that the Armed Forces alone could not solve Nigeria’s security challenges without strengthening other security and law enforcement agencies.
According to him, the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Correctional Service and the criminal justice system all require sustained reforms.
He noted that years of neglect of the policing system had contributed significantly to the country’s internal security challenges.
On emerging threats, he emphasised the need for continuous investment in modern technology, including drones and artificial intelligence, to counter terrorists increasingly deploying sophisticated technologies.
He however said that technology could not replace well-trained personnel, noting that modern military equipment still depended on skilled soldiers for effective deployment and maintenance.
Usman concluded that the army expansion would strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture if implemented alongside broader governance, institutional and socio-economic reforms addressing the root causes of insecurity.
(NAN)
