President Bola Tinubu approved the recruitment of 28,000 [1] additional soldiers for the Nigerian Army on Thursday, July 24, 2026 [1].
The expansion represents a significant increase in manpower intended to stabilize regions plagued by armed groups. By increasing the troop count, the government aims to reduce the frequency of attacks on civilians and regain control over volatile territories.
"We must strengthen national security by recruiting 28,000 additional soldiers," Tinubu said [1].
This presidential approval follows earlier communications from military leadership regarding the need for more personnel. Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, the Chief of Army Staff, had previously announced the recruitment plans during a press conference on June 26, 2026 [4].
Shaibu said the Army will recruit and train 28,000 [2] more soldiers to intensify efforts against insecurity [2]. He said the military is committed to adding these troops to combat the wave of attacks on civilians [4].
The recruitment drive is described as one of the largest military expansions in recent times [2]. The initiative focuses on strengthening the state's ability to respond to internal threats, and protecting the general population from armed violence [1].
Officials have not yet detailed the specific timeline for the training of these new recruits or the exact regions where the soldiers will be deployed. However, the move signals a shift toward a more aggressive manpower strategy to tackle the country's persistent security challenges [1].
“"We must strengthen national security by recruiting 28,000 additional soldiers."”
The decision to rapidly expand the Nigerian Army suggests that existing security frameworks and troop levels were insufficient to deter armed groups. By adding 28,000 personnel, the government is prioritizing a kinetic, manpower-heavy approach to stability. The success of this move will depend on the speed of training and the ability of the state to integrate these new soldiers into a cohesive strategy against fragmented insurgencies.
