Army expansion alone won’t end insecurity without funding, reforms – Ex-army spokesman

A former Director of Army Public Relations, retired Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, has said President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions would significantly strengthen the country’s security architecture.

He, however, said the expansion must be backed by adequate funding, modern equipment and broader security sector reforms to achieve the desired impact.

Usman stated this on Friday while speaking with journalists on the Federal Government’s approval of additional operational formations for the Nigerian Army, describing the move as a necessary response to the country’s growing security demands.

The President also approved the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel to enhance the army’s operational capacity in tackling insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other emerging security threats across the country.

The retired army spokesman described the decision as timely, noting that Nigeria’s increasing population, expansive landmass and evolving security environment made the expansion inevitable.

According to him, the Nigerian Army has in recent years expanded its training institutions, making it necessary to establish more operational formations capable of absorbing newly trained personnel.

He, however, cautioned that the creation of additional divisional headquarters alone would not automatically resolve the nation’s security challenges.

Usman stressed that the new divisions must be supported with adequate barracks, accommodation, weapons, armoured vehicles, artillery, communication systems, transport assets and efficient logistics to ensure their effectiveness.

He also noted that recruiting and training about 28,000 additional personnel would require substantial investment in manpower development, welfare and operational readiness.

“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.

Usman explained that the additional divisions would improve troop deployment across the country, reduce response time during emergencies and strengthen the military’s capacity to restrict the movement of terrorists, bandits and kidnappers.

He further argued that lasting security could not be achieved through the armed forces alone, calling for comprehensive reforms across other security and law enforcement institutions.

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 to effectively complement military operations.

The retired general blamed years of inadequate investment in policing for worsening many of the country’s internal security challenges.

He also urged the government to invest continuously in emerging technologies such as drones and artificial intelligence, warning that terrorist groups were increasingly adopting sophisticated technologies in their operations.

Despite the growing importance of technology in modern warfare, Usman maintained that advanced equipment could not replace properly trained personnel, stressing that effective deployment and maintenance of military hardware still depended on skilled soldiers.

He added that the planned expansion of the Nigerian Army would only deliver its intended impact if accompanied by institutional, governance and socio-economic reforms aimed at addressing the underlying causes of insecurity in the country.