A retired major general, Anthony Atolagbe, has described President Bola Tinubu’s recent restructuring of the Nigerian Army’s command structure as a bold and strategic move to confront the country’s evolving security challenges.
The former commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) spoke on Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme, where he called the expansion of the army from eight to 12 divisions a decisive step towards eliminating criminal elements across the country.
Mr Tinubu had approved the creation of four new Army divisions with headquarters in Makurdi, Benue State; Ilorin, Kwara; Jalingo, Taraba State; and Benin City, Edo State; alongside the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.
Mr Atolagbe said the restructuring reflected a bold and audacious command adjustment, adding that the newly appointed leadership would be positioned to convert the reform into decisive victories for troops in the field.
He said the new divisional structure was necessary given the shifting nature of Nigeria’s security threats, which have evolved from scattered insurgent cells into more sophisticated and coordinated terrorist networks requiring commanders with direct, recent theatre experience who can adapt swiftly to changing conditions.
