Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Ahmad Lawan, has commended President Bola Tinubu for approving the expansion of the Nigerian Army from its current structure to 12 divisions and authorising the recruitment of 28,000 young Nigerians into the force.

Lawan described the decision as a strategic step towards strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture and tackling the country’s persistent security challenges.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the former Senate President said the President’s approval demonstrated visionary leadership and a firm commitment to addressing insecurity through enhanced military capacity.

“I write to commend our dear President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the visionary and strategic decision he took to expand the Nigerian Army to 12 Divisions and approve the recruitment of 28,000 young Nigerians into the Nigerian Army. This decision couldn’t have come at a better time,” Lawan said.

He noted that the changing nature of modern warfare required not only superior weapons but also adequate manpower, wider operational coverage and greater tactical flexibility.

“I have always maintained that the asymmetric nature of modern warfare requires not just superior firepower, but superior manpower, strategic spread, and operational agility. With this expansion, the Commander-in-Chief has demonstrated that he is not just a listening leader, but a thinking leader,” he stated.

According to the defence committee chairman, the creation of additional army divisions would improve military response time to emerging security threats, particularly in ungoverned and vulnerable areas across the country.

“The creation of additional Divisions will shorten the response time to threats in ungoverned spaces. This goes to saying that a more robust order of battle means a faster and more decisive end to the remnants of insurgency that have troubled our peace,” he said.

Lawan also said the recruitment of 28,000 young Nigerians would strengthen the country’s defence capability while creating employment opportunities for youths.

“The injection of 28,000 fresh, trainable, and intelligent young Nigerians into the system is a double-edged sword of progress that ensures we are simultaneously strengthening our national defence architecture while providing dignified employment for our youth, and shielding them from the claws of crime and extremism,” he added.

He described the move as a major boost to the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, expressing confidence that reforms in the nation’s security institutions would continue until lasting peace is achieved.

“This is no doubt going to be a boost to the Renewed Hope Agenda of the APC administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The reform in the security outfits will continue sustainably until our dear country is secured,” Lawan said.

He concluded by praying for the Armed Forces and the country, saying, “May God bless the Nigerian Armed Forces and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”