Nigeria will recruit 28,000 additional military personnel after President Bola Tinubu approved a major expansion of the country’s armed forces to strengthen security amid rising violence, the presidency announced on Thursday.
The move comes as Africa’s most populous nation continues to battle multiple security threats, including a long-running insurgency in the north, attacks by militants linked to the Sahel region, and criminal gangs known locally as bandits, who have been blamed for deadly attacks and mass kidnappings.
Tinubu, who is seeking re-election in January, declared a nationwide security emergency in November after a surge in violence across several parts of the country. Since then, his administration has pledged to reinforce security forces and improve their ability to respond to growing threats.
In a statement, presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga described the recruitment as a major step towards strengthening Nigeria’s security system. He said the government would also invest in new military equipment and improve the welfare of troops.
The announcement follows reports from local media that the minimum monthly salary for the country’s lowest-ranking soldiers has been doubled to 100,000 naira (about $72). The government is also recruiting 50,000 new police officers as part of wider efforts to improve law enforcement nationwide.
Nigeria’s security crisis has drawn growing international attention. Earlier this year, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Christians in Nigeria were facing persecution, an allegation the Nigerian government has repeatedly denied, saying both Christians and Muslims have been victims of the country’s violence.
On Wednesday, Nigeria’s presidency said Trump had written to Tinubu, commending his leadership and efforts to address the country’s security challenges, particularly the violence affecting Christian communities.