Oyo State Governor and Allied Peoples Movement presidential candidate Seyi Makinde has questioned the planning and funding behind the Federal Government’s plan to expand the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions.
Makinde raised the issue on Monday during the APM North-Central Town Hall Meeting in Lafia, Nasarawa State, where he also questioned whether increased allocations to state governments had translated into improved living conditions for Nigerians.
The governor specifically challenged the Federal Government to identify the provision for the Army expansion in the 2026 national budget, saying the establishment of additional military formations should be supported by clear planning and funding.
Makinde said he had examined the 2026 budget while looking for an item relating to the proposed expansion but said he did not find one, and called on the administration to make the relevant provision public if it exists.
The Federal Government had earlier announced President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the Nigerian Army to increase its structure from eight to 12 divisions as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s security architecture.
Under the approved structure, new divisions are to be established in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City, while existing formations are to be reorganised to cover different parts of the country.
The government said the expansion was intended to improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security and provide faster military responses to emerging security threats.
The approved restructuring was also linked to plans for the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel and continued investment in military platforms, equipment and troop welfare.
Makinde, however, argued that tackling insecurity required more than announcing new military formations, stressing that the process should involve adequate planning and consultation.
He compared the issue with the approach adopted by his administration in preparing Oyo State’s budget, saying his government had begun consultations with residents across the state’s geopolitical zones ahead of the 2027 budget.
According to him, such consultations allow government to identify residents’ priorities before finalising spending plans and allocating resources.
The governor also turned his attention to the growing revenue available to state governments through the Federation Account, acknowledging that states were receiving more money but questioning whether the additional funds had translated into relief for citizens.
He asked whether the higher allocations had helped address hunger and economic hardship, saying the answer was no.
Makinde said Oyo State depended on federal allocations for more than 80 per cent of its revenue when he assumed office in 2019.
He said his administration reduced that dependence to about 65 per cent by 2022 but claimed it had subsequently risen again to almost 80 per cent.
The governor attributed the reversal to the economic policies of the Federal Government, while describing his own proposed national programme as a “Reset Nigeria” agenda covering security, education, the economy and the country’s socio-political environment.
Makinde’s comments have drawn a response from the campaign organisation of the APC governorship candidate in Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli.
The campaign organisation questioned how the state government had deployed increased Federation Account receipts and argued that higher revenues should produce tangible improvements in residents’ living conditions.
Its response represents a political counterargument to Makinde’s assessment and was issued by the campaign organisation’s Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele.
The debate comes as Makinde combines his responsibilities as Oyo governor with his campaign for the presidency under the APM ahead of the 2027 general election.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State House of Assembly has passed a bill seeking constitutional changes to enable the establishment of state police services.
The proposed state police framework was passed for a third reading and is expected to be transmitted to the National Assembly as part of the constitutional amendment process.
The development adds another layer to the ongoing national debate over how Nigeria should structure its security system, particularly amid calls for stronger subnational involvement in policing.
Makinde’s latest position therefore focuses on two interconnected questions: how the Federal Government plans to finance and implement the expanded military structure, and whether increased revenues reaching states are translating into measurable improvements for citizens.
As the 2027 political season approaches, these issues are likely to remain part of wider discussions about national security, public spending, state finances and economic hardship.