Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu has approved the country's largest military expansion in recent times, aiming to tackle the slew of security challenges plaguing the nation. The government has been under intense pressure to curb the violence perpetrated by various armed groups, including militant Islamists, separatists, and gangs who kidnap civilians for ransom.
As part of the military expansion, the government plans to recruit 28,000 extra soldiers and create four new army divisions, taking the total number up to 12. The new divisions will ensure better co-ordination, intelligence sharing, and faster response times, addressing the current limitations of the army's structure.
The violence has spread across the country, with recent incidents including the abduction of 46 students from a school in Borno state and the killing of at least 20 villagers in Zamfara state. Despite recent inroads made by the authorities in their fight against armed gangs, the criminal groups have become more sophisticated, and violence remains a defining aspect of life in Nigeria.
Security experts have expressed concerns that convincing young Nigerians to join the army, given the number of soldiers killed in recent months, might be a major challenge. Ahead of approving the changes to the military, President Tinubu ordered armed groups to 'surrender or face the full force' of the state.