The Nigeria Citizens Watch for Good Governance, NCWGG, has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval to expand the Nigerian Army to twelve divisions and recruit 28,000 additional personnel as a historic step that will redefine the nation’s security landscape.
In a statement signed by its Director of Communications, Igwe Ude-Umanata, the group said the decision demonstrates that the Renewed Hope Agenda is not a slogan but a driving force for national development, with security as the topmost priority.
The group noted that the move gives practical effect to Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.
“This bold and gigantic step is a game changer. It is suffocation to the very oxygen of insecurity, a deadly venom to both the sponsors and the foot soldiers of terror,_” the statement read. NCWGG added that the expansion and recruitment will serve as a morale booster for troops who “chase evil into the darkest corners of our forests.”
The group poured commendation on the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede, describing them as the “twin pillars” under whose command the milestone is being achieved. It credited their professional vision and leadership with taking the country’s security architecture “to another level entirely.”
NCWGG cited the public commendation of President Tinubu by United States President Donald J. Trump in a White House letter dated 6 July 2026 as proof of Nigeria’s decisive leadership against terrorism. It also referenced the recent rescue of 44 school children and their teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State as evidence of the operational efficiency and intelligence-driven sophistication of the military under the current command.
The organization passed a vote of confidence on Gen. Shuaibu and Gen. Oluyede, expressing full faith in their professionalism and dedication to defending the country.
NCWGG called on citizens to remain calm, supportive and vigilant, stressing that national security is a collective responsibility. It further urged the Federal Government to sustain funding for the armed forces, deploy modern equipment, and prioritize personnel welfare, while calling on the National Assembly to back the military with legislation that protects troops’ entitlements.
“_With a twelve-division army, a resurgent fighting spirit and a Commander-in-Chief who treats national defence as a sacred trust, Nigeria is undoubtedly marching towards a future where peace and security are the inheritance of every citizen,_” the statement concluded.
