A civil society organisation, the Nigeria Citizens Watch for Gooda Governance (NCWGG), on Monday threw its weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the expansion of the Nigerian Army to 12 divisions and the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, describing the move as a major boost to the country’s security architecture.

 

The NCWGG’s position comes days after President Bola Tinubu approved a major expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions and authorised the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s response to persistent security threats.

 

The expansion includes the establishment of four new divisional headquarters in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City, while the Federal Government also pledged increased investment in military equipment, troop welfare, operational readiness and force modernisation.

 

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the group’s Director of Communications, Igwe Ude-Umanta, said the decision would strengthen the military’s capacity to tackle insecurity and improve the operational effectiveness of troops across the country.

 

He described the approval as a strategic intervention that reflects the Tinubu administration’s commitment to fulfilling its constitutional responsibility of protecting the lives and property of Nigerians.

 

According to him, the expansion of the Army and the planned recruitment of additional personnel would enhance the country’s response to terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other security challenges while boosting the morale of troops engaged in various operations nationwide.

 

He said: “This bold and gigantic step is a game changer. It is suffocation to the very oxygen of insecurity, a deadly venom to both the sponsors and the foot soldiers of terror, a potent cleanser that will detoxify this nation of criminality and make the torment of insecurity a thing of the past.

 

“For our gallant troops who fight day and night, who chase evil into the darkest corners of our forests, this expansion and the mass recruitment of fresh, capable hands are a thundering morale booster. It tells every soldier that the nation sees, the nation cares and the nation is backing them with concrete action.”

 

The group commended the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, and the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede, for what it described as their professional leadership and commitment to repositioning the Armed Forces.

 

Ude-Umanta said the two military chiefs had played significant roles in strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture through strategic planning and operational reforms.

 

He further cited the recent rescue of 44 schoolchildren and their teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State as evidence of the improved operational capacity of the Armed Forces, attributing the success to enhanced intelligence gathering and coordinated military operations.

 

The organisation also referenced what it described as international recognition of Nigeria’s security efforts, including a reported commendation from United States President Donald Trump to President Tinubu over the country’s counter-terrorism operations.

 

Passing a vote of confidence on the military leadership, the group urged Nigerians to continue supporting security agencies by providing timely intelligence and remaining vigilant against criminal activities.

 

NCWGG further called on the Federal Government to sustain investment in the Armed Forces through increased funding, acquisition of modern military equipment and improved welfare packages for officers and soldiers.

 

The group appealed to the National Assembly to continue supporting the military through legislative measures that would enhance funding and guarantee better welfare and operational readiness for personnel.

“With a twelve-division army, a resurgent fighting spirit and a Commander-in-Chief who treats national defence as a sacred trust, Nigeria is undoubtedly marching towards a future where peace and security are the inheritance of every citizen”, he said.