Army expansion to 12 divisions will boost security, economy — COAS

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has said the ongoing expansion of the Nigerian Army to 12 divisions will strengthen security, improve response to threats and support economic growth.

Shaibu said the establishment of additional formations and units was aimed at broadening the Army’s operational footprint, strengthening its presence in vulnerable areas and improving its ability to respond to security challenges.

The COAS stated this on Tuesday while delivering a lecture titled, “Safeguarding the Orange Economy and Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development: The Role of the Nigerian Army,” to participants of Senior Executive Course 48, 2026, at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State.

He said the expanded force structure would enhance the protection of communities, critical national infrastructure and economic activities while restricting the freedom of action of terrorists and other criminal elements.

According to him, the Nigerian Army’s contribution to national development goes beyond countering security threats, as sustained military operations help create the stability required for businesses, entrepreneurs, investors and creative professionals to operate and prosper.

A statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, quoted Shaibu as describing the Orange Economy, which encompasses arts, culture, music, film and digital content, as an increasingly important driver of employment, investment, cultural diplomacy and national development.

The COAS noted that Nigeria’s creative talents continued to project the country globally while creating opportunities for wealth generation beyond traditional sectors of the economy.

He stressed that creativity and enterprise could only flourish in an atmosphere of peace and security, noting that insecurity disrupted economic activities, restricted mobility, discouraged investment and undermined productivity.

Shaibu called for stronger collaboration among security agencies, government institutions, the private sector and stakeholders in the creative industry, stressing that security was a collective responsibility.

He underscored the direct relationship between national security and sustainable economic development, and reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to strengthening the security environment necessary for investment, entrepreneurship and sustainable national development.