The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shuaibu, on Monday, disclosed that the Nigerian Army has established new brigades, battalions and operational units across six states as part of efforts to strengthen security operations and improve rapid response to emerging threats nationwide.
Shuaibu said the new formations were created to enhance the Army’s operational posture, expand military presence in volatile areas and improve responses to security challenges across the country.
The COAS made this known during the opening ceremony of the Chief of Army Staff First Bi-Annual Conference 2026 held in Abuja.
According to him, the Army has continued to sustain an enhanced operational posture through troop deployments, restructuring of formations and the establishment of additional Joint Task Force units in strategic locations.
He said, “The Nigerian Army has maintained an enhanced operational posture through continuous troop deployments, reconfiguration of formations and the establishment of additional Joint Task Force formations and units in critical locations.
“For instance, the 15 Brigade and its affiliated units in Anambra and Imo states, the 12 Battalion in Anyigba, the 226 Battalion in Ganye, Adamawa State, the 247 Reconnaissance Battalion in Mubi, Army Headquarters Logistics Base 4 in Gusau, Army Logistics Base 5 in Ilorin, and Operation Savannah Shield in the North Central have all been established to enhance operational presence and improve responses to emerging security challenges.”
He noted that the measures were aimed at improving operational effectiveness and strengthening the Army’s capacity to respond swiftly to security threats across different regions of the country.
The Army Chief further disclosed that the establishment of the Depot Nigerian Army in Amasiri, Edda, is aimed at supporting the implementation of the Commander-in-Chief’s directive for the recruitment of an additional 28,000 personnel to strengthen manpower levels.
“Additionally, the establishment of the Depot Nigerian Army Amasiri, Edda (Ebonyi), is geared towards achieving the mandate of the Commander-in-Chief’s directive of recruiting an additional 28,000 troops under the expansion programme.
“These measures have strengthened our operational reach, improved response time and facilitated effective intelligence-led operations. Consequently, we have continued to disrupt criminal networks, degrade adversary capabilities and restore relative calm in several previously volatile areas,” he said.
Shuaibu also explained that the Nigerian Army Aviation has become a major force multiplier, citing its recent success in supporting troop insertion and extraction operations in difficult terrains in the North-East as a significant operational milestone.
“It is worth noting that one of the major enablers of our recent operational success has been the growing contribution of Nigerian Army aviation assets. Notably, for the first time in the North-East theatre of operations, Army aviation assets successfully enabled the insertion and extraction of troops within the Tumbutu Triangle,” he said.
The COAS reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to strengthening joint operations, inter-agency collaboration and international partnerships, noting that recent coordinated operations with foreign partners have yielded significant successes in counter-terrorism efforts.
He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support to the Armed Forces, particularly in the areas of equipment procurement, infrastructure development and personnel welfare.
Shuaibu added that ongoing welfare interventions, including improved accommodation projects, healthcare services and the review of allowances, were designed to boost morale and enhance combat readiness.
The development comes amid persistent security challenges across the country, including insurgency in the North-East, banditry and kidnappings in the North-West and North-Central, as well as secessionist-related violence in the South-East.
The Nigerian Army has in recent months intensified efforts to expand its operational footprint and improve rapid response capabilities in troubled areas.
