Nigeria president approves largest military expansion in recent times
Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu has approved a major military expansion, including the recruitment of 28,000 soldiers and the creation of four new army divisions. This initiative aims to improve response times and coordination in the fight against armed groups, including militants and kidnapping gangs.
Why it matters
The expansion reflects the government's struggle to maintain internal security amidst a surge in violence and abductions across multiple Nigerian states.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Chris Ewokor Abuja AFP via Getty Images The new army divisions will lead to better co-ordination and faster response times, the government says Nigeria's president has approved the country's largest military expansion in recent times - an attempt to tackle the slew of security challenges plaguing the nation.
Bola Tinubu has greenlit the recruitment of 28,000 extra soldiers and the creation of four new army divisions, which will take the total number up to 12.
Nigeria's government is under intense pressure to curb the violence perpetrated by a variety of armed groups, including militant Islamists, separatists and gangs who kidnap civilians for ransom.
Over the past week, an armed gang killed at least 20 villagers in the north-western state of Zamfara and 46 students were abducted from a school in Borno state in the country's north-east.
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