Former Nigerian Air Force spokesman, Group Captain Sadeeq Shehu (retd.), has urged the Federal Government to strengthen the Nigerian Army’s existing formations before implementing plans to expand the force from 8 to 12 divisions.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE News monitored by The News Chronicle (TNC), Shehu said while expanding the Army is a step in the right direction, the government must first address the manpower, equipment and welfare challenges affecting the current divisions.
He noted that Nigeria’s large population and its shared borders with several neighbouring countries make a strong military essential, stressing that security threats could emerge from any direction.
“Considering our population and the countries bordering Nigeria, whose intentions we may not always know because, in politics, there are no permanent friends or enemies, strengthening the military is necessary,” he said.
Shehu cited the recent entry of Cameroonian troops into Nigerian territory as one of the factors that may have informed President Bola Tinubu’s decision to increase the number of Army divisions from eight to 12.
However, he questioned whether the existing divisions had been properly assessed before the expansion plan was announced.
“I expect that the existing eight divisions have been carefully evaluated to determine how well they are resourced before creating additional divisions,” he said.
The retired officer argued that the Army remains under-resourced in personnel, noting that many soldiers spend extended periods on operations without being replaced.
“Officers remain on long operational tours without relief, which clearly shows there is a shortage of personnel,” he said.
On military hardware, Shehu referenced recent security debates in the National Assembly, where Senator Ali Ndume reportedly raised concerns over shortages of ammunition and weapons in some military units.
Explaining the military’s organisational structure, Shehu said every Army formation is built around a standard table of organisation that specifies the personnel and equipment required for effective operations.
“A standard battalion should have about 600 officers and soldiers. To establish one, you need at least 750 rifles because every soldier should be armed. You also require communication equipment, operational vehicles, hand grenades and other combat resources. Without these, a battalion or brigade cannot function effectively,” he explained.
He insisted that the government should prioritise closing existing operational gaps instead of creating new formations.
“We should be fixing the existing gaps,” he said.
Shehu also warned against allowing political considerations to influence military expansion.
“If the expansion is driven by politics, where every region wants its own division, it will not be good for either the military or the country,” he cautioned.
He further described the proposed timeline for establishing the new divisions as unrealistic.
“It is a good plan, but expecting a division to become combat-ready within three months is unrealistic and practically impossible,” he said.
He also questioned whether the proposed recruitment of 28,000 personnel would be enough to adequately staff four additional divisions.
Rather than creating new divisions immediately, Shehu advised the government to reorganise and reinforce the existing formations after conducting a comprehensive assessment of their operational readiness.
“We need to identify the gaps in the current divisions—whether they involve personnel, equipment or serviceability. That assessment will determine whether we truly need more divisions or whether we should first strengthen the existing ones,” he said.
He also called for a detailed threat analysis to determine the Army’s capacity to respond effectively if the country faces multiple security threats simultaneously.
“If one soldier is deployed, there should be two or three others available to replace him when necessary,” he said.
Speaking on troop welfare, Shehu referred to the acronym TEAM—Training, Equipment, Ammunition and Motivation—which had featured in the debate by Ali Ndume,
He stressed that motivation goes far beyond salaries and allowances.
“Motivation includes having enough personnel, helicopters on standby to evacuate wounded soldiers, quality medical treatment, protective gear when needed, adequate equipment, regular leave after long deployments, proper uniforms and the assurance that soldiers’ families are well cared for,” he said.
The retired Air Force spokesman also criticised the remuneration of soldiers, describing their earnings as inadequate.
“Soldiers are being paid from a ridiculous ₦40,000 to ₦100,000. What will ₦100,000 do?” he asked.
Shehu concluded that while better pay is important, improving the overall welfare, operational support and working conditions of soldiers is equally critical to building a capable and effective fighting force.
