A former director of army public relations, Sani Usman, says the planned expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions will enhance national security if backed by adequate funding, equipment and wider security sector reforms.

Mr Usman said this in an interview with journalists on Friday while reacting to President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the expansion of the Nigerian Army’s operational formations.

Mr Tinubu had approved the expansion alongside the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel to boost the army’s operational capacity against insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and other emerging threats.

The former army spokesman described the decision as timely and long overdue, adding that Nigeria’s growing population, vast territory, and evolving security threats justified the increase in the army’s order of battle.

According to him, the army has already expanded its training institutions in recent years, making it necessary to create additional operational formations to absorb newly trained personnel.

Mr Usman, however, warned that establishing new divisional headquarters alone would not solve the country’s security challenges.

He said the expansion must be complemented with barracks, accommodation, weapons, armoured vehicles, artillery, communication equipment, transport assets, and robust logistics support.

The former army spokesperson added that recruiting and training about 28,000 additional personnel would also require significant investment in manpower development and welfare.

“The expansion is a welcome development, but funding will determine its success. It must be supported with adequate resources to achieve the desired objectives,” he said.

Mr Usman said the additional divisions would improve troop deployment, shorten response time, and enhance the military’s ability to deny terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers freedom of movement.

The retired general stressed that the armed forces alone could not solve Nigeria’s security challenges without strengthening other security and law enforcement agencies.

According to him, the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Correctional Service and the criminal justice system all require sustained reforms.

He noted that years of neglect of the policing system had contributed significantly to the country’s internal security challenges.

On emerging threats, he emphasised the need for continuous investment in modern technology, including drones and artificial intelligence, to counter terrorists increasingly deploying sophisticated technologies.

He, however, said that technology could not replace well-trained personnel, noting that modern military equipment still depended on skilled soldiers for effective deployment and maintenance.

Mr Usman concluded that the army expansion would strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture if implemented alongside broader governance, institutional and socio-economic reforms addressing the root causes of insecurity.

(NAN)