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Nigeria will need more than a bigger army to tackle security challenges Nigeria will need more than a bigger army to tackle security challenges Expert comment LToremark 25 August 2026 Without accompanying reforms, the risk is that President Tinubus plan only makes Nigerias army bigger but not better. In July, President Bola Tinubu announced a major expansion of the Nigerian Army, adding four new divisions to its existing eight. Rather than framing it as a long-planned response to Nigerias many worsening security challenges, Tinubu indicated that the announcement was a direct response to a mass school kidnapping in his home region, the latest in a series of such attacks. Regardless, the groundbreaking decision has the potential to make Nigeria more secure.The expansion plan involves recruiting 28,000 soldiers and creating several new brigades and battalions in conflict-prone areas. Some of the troops will be trained at two new facilities built to expand the armys recruitment capacity – and training has already begun. Tinubu also approved a huge pay increase (from 30 to 80 per cent, depending on rank) for military personnel, as real wages have dwindled due to high inflation.While undoubtedly historic, Tinubus announcement begs some important questions. How tangible and transformative is this expansion, and how will it be paid for? Can the deployment of more soldiers translate into long-term security gains without fundamental security sector reform? And what opportunities does this expansion create for the Nigerias security assistance partners, such as the UK and the US?Does size matter? Related work Nigeria and Ghana foreign ministers discuss security, AES countries, Boko Haram and US operations Before answering these questions, it should be said that this expansion is long overdue. Nigeria has a population of roughly 240 million and is set to overtake the US as the worlds third most populous country by 2043. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army only has approximately 100,000 active personnel according to recent estimates. Its vast and growing population requires a larger military. Nigeria also needs more military capacity to address its many complex security challenges – insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and communal conflict, for example – that have proliferated in recent years, destabilizing parts of the country that were once considered safe.Stationing more soldiers outside of their traditional garrisons, especially in rural areas, would help protect vulnerable civilian targets and make it easier for the army to locate and eliminate remote safe havens used by bandit gangs and insurgent groups. Meanwhile, a greater military presence along Nigerias porous borders could improve operational coordination and intelligence sharing with army units in neighboring Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. This could help offset the decline in regional security cooperation that followed the 2025 withdrawal of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).That said, Tinubus expansion plan does not address many of the armys institutional challenges; a list that includes lacklustre leadership, poor operational planning, inadequate training, equipment shortfalls, endemic corruption and a dire human rights record. This suggests that Nigerias reform-resistant army could experience a sort of operational stagflation: becoming bigger but not better.Stagflation has already affected Nigerias defence budget, which – although appearing to have skyrocketed in recent years – has in fact grown only modestly in dollar terms, rising from $3.9 billion in 2021 to $4.7 billion in 2026. Moreover, the overall share of the national budget spent on defence actually decreased from 21 to 11 per cent during the same timeframe due to Nigerias rising debt burden and the steady devaluation of its currency, the naira. To pay for more soldiers and higher military salaries, President Tinubu will need to increase the defence budget, which may force cuts to infrastructure, health and education spending.It also remains to be seen whether the creation of new divisions, brigades and battalions will increase the armys operational capacity, or just make it even more top heavy. Already known for its woeful tooth-to-tail ratio – teeth meaning the combat troops and tail the support personnel – the Nigerian Army has far too many general officers for a force its size. According to one estimate, 30 per cent of all Nigerian military officers achieve general/flag officer rank, compared to no more than 3 per cent in many other countries. Until this dynamic changes, a disproportionate number of Nigerian soldiers will end up serving as orderlies, rather than patrolling communities to protect civilians.How to ensure bigger also means better Related work Navigating a path beyond regional division is essential for West Africas security Having taken the bold decision to increase the size of the countrys military, Nigerias leaders should look to maximize the impact of that investment by embracing key reforms. Tinubu could, for example, take steps to consolidate Nigerias sprawling security apparatus which now consists of an alphabet soup of security agencies that perform poorly and compete more than they cooperate. But in a country where politicians have long relied on agency-creation to build out their patronage networks, such bureaucratic streamlining will require sustained high-level impetus.Security sector consolidation would also alleviate pressure on the army if it freed up human and budget resources for Nigerias struggling police. This investment will be especially critical as Nigeria prepares to pass a constitutional amendment to allow states to create their own police forces. If trained and resourced effectively, state forces could work with the federal police to relieve the army of routine internal security duties, freeing troops up to tackle some of Nigerias toughest security challenges.Any domestic security sector reform effort, however modest, would also give Nigerias security assistance partners a clear opportunity to re-engage in ways that play to their strengths: planning and technical assistance, leadership training and education, and facilitating interagency cooperation and intelligence sharing. As partners like Britain and the US engage with Nigerias newly expanded army, they should stress to Nigerias leaders that security sector reform is the best way to ensure that bigger also means better. 

Nigeria will need more than a bigger army to tackle security challenges Nigeria will need more than a bigger army to tackle security challenges Expert comment LToremark 25 August 2026 Without accompanying reforms, the risk is that President Tinubus plan only makes Nigerias army bigger but not better. In July, President Bola Tinubu announced a major expansion of the Nigerian Army, adding four new divisions to its existing eight. Rather than framing it as a long-planned response to Nigerias many worsening security challenges, Tinubu indicated that the announcement was a direct response to a mass school kidnapping in his home region, the latest in a series of such attacks. Regardless, the groundbreaking decision has the potential to make Nigeria more secure.The expansion plan involves recruiting 28,000 soldiers and creating several new brigades and battalions in conflict-prone areas. Some of the troops will be trained at two new facilities built to expand the armys recruitment capacity – and training has already begun. Tinubu also approved a huge pay increase (from 30 to 80 per cent, depending on rank) for military personnel, as real wages have dwindled due to high inflation.While undoubtedly historic, Tinubus announcement begs some important questions. How tangible and transformative is this expansion, and how will it be paid for? Can the deployment of more soldiers translate into long-term security gains without fundamental security sector reform? And what opportunities does this expansion create for the Nigerias security assistance partners, such as the UK and the US?Does size matter? Related work Nigeria and Ghana foreign ministers discuss security, AES countries, Boko Haram and US operations Before answering these questions, it should be said that this expansion is long overdue. Nigeria has a population of roughly 240 million and is set to overtake the US as the worlds third most populous country by 2043. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army only has approximately 100,000 active personnel according to recent estimates. Its vast and growing population requires a larger military. Nigeria also needs more military capacity to address its many complex security challenges – insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and communal conflict, for example – that have proliferated in recent years, destabilizing parts of the country that were once considered safe.Stationing more soldiers outside of their traditional garrisons, especially in rural areas, would help protect vulnerable civilian targets and make it easier for the army to locate and eliminate remote safe havens used by bandit gangs and insurgent groups. Meanwhile, a greater military presence along Nigerias porous borders could improve operational coordination and intelligence sharing with army units in neighboring Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. This could help offset the decline in regional security cooperation that followed the 2025 withdrawal of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).That said, Tinubus expansion plan does not address many of the armys institutional challenges; a list that includes lacklustre leadership, poor operational planning, inadequate training, equipment shortfalls, endemic corruption and a dire human rights record. This suggests that Nigerias reform-resistant army could experience a sort of operational stagflation: becoming bigger but not better.Stagflation has already affected Nigerias defence budget, which – although appearing to have skyrocketed in recent years – has in fact grown only modestly in dollar terms, rising from $3.9 billion in 2021 to $4.7 billion in 2026. Moreover, the overall share of the national budget spent on defence actually decreased from 21 to 11 per cent during the same timeframe due to Nigerias rising debt burden and the steady devaluation of its currency, the naira. To pay for more soldiers and higher military salaries, President Tinubu will need to increase the defence budget, which may force cuts to infrastructure, health and education spending.It also remains to be seen whether the creation of new divisions, brigades and battalions will increase the armys operational capacity, or just make it even more top heavy. Already known for its woeful tooth-to-tail ratio – teeth meaning the combat troops and tail the support personnel – the Nigerian Army has far too many general officers for a force its size. According to one estimate, 30 per cent of all Nigerian military officers achieve general/flag officer rank, compared to no more than 3 per cent in many other countries. Until this dynamic changes, a disproportionate number of Nigerian soldiers will end up serving as orderlies, rather than patrolling communities to protect civilians.How to ensure bigger also means better Related work Navigating a path beyond regional division is essential for West Africas security Having taken the bold decision to increase the size of the countrys military, Nigerias leaders should look to maximize the impact of that investment by embracing key reforms. Tinubu could, for example, take steps to consolidate Nigerias sprawling security apparatus which now consists of an alphabet soup of security agencies that perform poorly and compete more than they cooperate. But in a country where politicians have long relied on agency-creation to build out their patronage networks, such bureaucratic streamlining will require sustained high-level impetus.Security sector consolidation would also alleviate pressure on the army if it freed up human and budget resources for Nigerias struggling police. This investment will be especially critical as Nigeria prepares to pass a constitutional amendment to allow states to create their own police forces. If trained and resourced effectively, state forces could work with the federal police to relieve the army of routine internal security duties, freeing troops up to tackle some of Nigerias toughest security challenges.Any domestic security sector reform effort, however modest, would also give Nigerias security assistance partners a clear opportunity to re-engage in ways that play to their strengths: planning and technical assistance, leadership training and education, and facilitating interagency cooperation and intelligence sharing. As partners like Britain and the US engage with Nigerias newly expanded army, they should stress to Nigerias leaders that security sector reform is the best way to ensure that bigger also means better. 

Nigeria will need more than a bigger army to tackle security challenges Nigeria will need more than a bigger army to tackle security challenges Expert comment LToremark 25 August 2026 Without accompanying reforms, the risk is that President Tinubus plan only makes Nigerias army bigger but not better. In July, President Bola Tinubu announced a major expansion of the Nigerian Army, adding four new divisions to its existing eight. Rather than framing it as a long-planned response to Nigerias many worsening security challenges, Tinubu indicated that the announcement was a direct response to a mass school kidnapping in his home region, the latest in a series of such attacks. Regardless, the groundbreaking decision has the potential to make Nigeria more secure.The expansion plan involves recruiting 28,000 soldiers and creating several new brigades and battalions in conflict-prone areas. Some of the troops will be trained at two new facilities built to expand the armys recruitment capacity – and training has already begun. Tinubu also approved a huge pay increase (from 30 to 80 per cent, depending on rank) for military personnel, as real wages have dwindled due to high inflation.While undoubtedly historic, Tinubus announcement begs some important questions. How tangible and transformative is this expansion, and how will it be paid for? Can the deployment of more soldiers translate into long-term security gains without fundamental security sector reform? And what opportunities does this expansion create for the Nigerias security assistance partners, such as the UK and the US?Does size matter? Related work Nigeria and Ghana foreign ministers discuss security, AES countries, Boko Haram and US operations Before answering these questions, it should be said that this expansion is long overdue. Nigeria has a population of roughly 240 million and is set to overtake the US as the worlds third most populous country by 2043. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army only has approximately 100,000 active personnel according to recent estimates. Its vast and growing population requires a larger military. Nigeria also needs more military capacity to address its many complex security challenges – insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and communal conflict, for example – that have proliferated in recent years, destabilizing parts of the country that were once considered safe.Stationing more soldiers outside of their traditional garrisons, especially in rural areas, would help protect vulnerable civilian targets and make it easier for the army to locate and eliminate remote safe havens used by bandit gangs and insurgent groups. Meanwhile, a greater military presence along Nigerias porous borders could improve operational coordination and intelligence sharing with army units in neighboring Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. This could help offset the decline in regional security cooperation that followed the 2025 withdrawal of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).That said, Tinubus expansion plan does not address many of the armys institutional challenges; a list that includes lacklustre leadership, poor operational planning, inadequate training, equipment shortfalls, endemic corruption and a dire human rights record. This suggests that Nigerias reform-resistant army could experience a sort of operational stagflation: becoming bigger but not better.Stagflation has already affected Nigerias defence budget, which – although appearing to have skyrocketed in recent years – has in fact grown only modestly in dollar terms, rising from $3.9 billion in 2021 to $4.7 billion in 2026. Moreover, the overall share of the national budget spent on defence actually decreased from 21 to 11 per cent during the same timeframe due to Nigerias rising debt burden and the steady devaluation of its currency, the naira. To pay for more soldiers and higher military salaries, President Tinubu will need to increase the defence budget, which may force cuts to infrastructure, health and education spending.It also remains to be seen whether the creation of new divisions, brigades and battalions will increase the armys operational capacity, or just make it even more top heavy. Already known for its woeful tooth-to-tail ratio – teeth meaning the combat troops and tail the support personnel – the Nigerian Army has far too many general officers for a force its size. According to one estimate, 30 per cent of all Nigerian military officers achieve general/flag officer rank, compared to no more than 3 per cent in many other countries. Until this dynamic changes, a disproportionate number of Nigerian soldiers will end up serving as orderlies, rather than patrolling communities to protect civilians.How to ensure bigger also means better Related work Navigating a path beyond regional division is essential for West Africas security Having taken the bold decision to increase the size of the countrys military, Nigerias leaders should look to maximize the impact of that investment by embracing key reforms. Tinubu could, for example, take steps to consolidate Nigerias sprawling security apparatus which now consists of an alphabet soup of security agencies that perform poorly and compete more than they cooperate. But in a country where politicians have long relied on agency-creation to build out their patronage networks, such bureaucratic streamlining will require sustained high-level impetus.Security sector consolidation would also alleviate pressure on the army if it freed up human and budget resources for Nigerias struggling police. This investment will be especially critical as Nigeria prepares to pass a constitutional amendment to allow states to create their own police forces. If trained and resourced effectively, state forces could work with the federal police to relieve the army of routine internal security duties, freeing troops up to tackle some of Nigerias toughest security challenges.Any domestic security sector reform effort, however modest, would also give Nigerias security assistance partners a clear opportunity to re-engage in ways that play to their strengths: planning and technical assistance, leadership training and education, and facilitating interagency cooperation and intelligence sharing. As partners like Britain and the US engage with Nigerias newly expanded army, they should stress to Nigerias leaders that security sector reform is the best way to ensure that bigger also means better. 

Nigeria will need more than a bigger army to tackle security challenges Nigeria will need more than a bigger army to tackle security challenges Expert comment LToremark 25 August 2026 Without accompanying reforms, the risk is that President Tinubus plan only makes Nigerias army bigger but not better. In July, President Bola Tinubu announced a major expansion of the Nigerian Army, adding four new divisions to its existing eight. Rather than framing it as a long-planned response to Nigerias many worsening security challenges, Tinubu indicated that the announcement was a direct response to a mass school kidnapping in his home region, the latest in a series of such attacks. Regardless, the groundbreaking decision has the potential to make Nigeria more secure.The expansion plan involves recruiting 28,000 soldiers and creating several new brigades and battalions in conflict-prone areas. Some of the troops will be trained at two new facilities built to expand the armys recruitment capacity – and training has already begun. Tinubu also approved a huge pay increase (from 30 to 80 per cent, depending on rank) for military personnel, as real wages have dwindled due to high inflation.While undoubtedly historic, Tinubus announcement begs some important questions. How tangible and transformative is this expansion, and how will it be paid for? Can the deployment of more soldiers translate into long-term security gains without fundamental security sector reform? And what opportunities does this expansion create for the Nigerias security assistance partners, such as the UK and the US?Does size matter? Related work Nigeria and Ghana foreign ministers discuss security, AES countries, Boko Haram and US operations Before answering these questions, it should be said that this expansion is long overdue. Nigeria has a population of roughly 240 million and is set to overtake the US as the worlds third most populous country by 2043. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army only has approximately 100,000 active personnel according to recent estimates. Its vast and growing population requires a larger military. Nigeria also needs more military capacity to address its many complex security challenges – insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and communal conflict, for example – that have proliferated in recent years, destabilizing parts of the country that were once considered safe.Stationing more soldiers outside of their traditional garrisons, especially in rural areas, would help protect vulnerable civilian targets and make it easier for the army to locate and eliminate remote safe havens used by bandit gangs and insurgent groups. Meanwhile, a greater military presence along Nigerias porous borders could improve operational coordination and intelligence sharing with army units in neighboring Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. This could help offset the decline in regional security cooperation that followed the 2025 withdrawal of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).That said, Tinubus expansion plan does not address many of the armys institutional challenges; a list that includes lacklustre leadership, poor operational planning, inadequate training, equipment shortfalls, endemic corruption and a dire human rights record. This suggests that Nigerias reform-resistant army could experience a sort of operational stagflation: becoming bigger but not better.Stagflation has already affected Nigerias defence budget, which – although appearing to have skyrocketed in recent years – has in fact grown only modestly in dollar terms, rising from $3.9 billion in 2021 to $4.7 billion in 2026. Moreover, the overall share of the national budget spent on defence actually decreased from 21 to 11 per cent during the same timeframe due to Nigerias rising debt burden and the steady devaluation of its currency, the naira. To pay for more soldiers and higher military salaries, President Tinubu will need to increase the defence budget, which may force cuts to infrastructure, health and education spending.It also remains to be seen whether the creation of new divisions, brigades and battalions will increase the armys operational capacity, or just make it even more top heavy. Already known for its woeful tooth-to-tail ratio – teeth meaning the combat troops and tail the support personnel – the Nigerian Army has far too many general officers for a force its size. According to one estimate, 30 per cent of all Nigerian military officers achieve general/flag officer rank, compared to no more than 3 per cent in many other countries. Until this dynamic changes, a disproportionate number of Nigerian soldiers will end up serving as orderlies, rather than patrolling communities to protect civilians.How to ensure bigger also means better Related work Navigating a path beyond regional division is essential for West Africas security Having taken the bold decision to increase the size of the countrys military, Nigerias leaders should look to maximize the impact of that investment by embracing key reforms. Tinubu could, for example, take steps to consolidate Nigerias sprawling security apparatus which now consists of an alphabet soup of security agencies that perform poorly and compete more than they cooperate. But in a country where politicians have long relied on agency-creation to build out their patronage networks, such bureaucratic streamlining will require sustained high-level impetus.Security sector consolidation would also alleviate pressure on the army if it freed up human and budget resources for Nigerias struggling police. This investment will be especially critical as Nigeria prepares to pass a constitutional amendment to allow states to create their own police forces. If trained and resourced effectively, state forces could work with the federal police to relieve the army of routine internal security duties, freeing troops up to tackle some of Nigerias toughest security challenges.Any domestic security sector reform effort, however modest, would also give Nigerias security assistance partners a clear opportunity to re-engage in ways that play to their strengths: planning and technical assistance, leadership training and education, and facilitating interagency cooperation and intelligence sharing. As partners like Britain and the US engage with Nigerias newly expanded army, they should stress to Nigerias leaders that security sector reform is the best way to ensure that bigger also means better. 

Nigeria will need more than a bigger army to tackle security challenges Nigeria will need more than a bigger army to tackle security challenges Expert comment LToremark 25 August 2026 Without accompanying reforms, the risk is that President Tinubus plan only makes Nigerias army bigger but not better. In July, President Bola Tinubu announced a major expansion of the Nigerian Army, adding four new divisions to its existing eight. Rather than framing it as a long-planned response to Nigerias many worsening security challenges, Tinubu indicated that the announcement was a direct response to a mass school kidnapping in his home region, the latest in a series of such attacks. Regardless, the groundbreaking decision has the potential to make Nigeria more secure.The expansion plan involves recruiting 28,000 soldiers and creating several new brigades and battalions in conflict-prone areas. Some of the troops will be trained at two new facilities built to expand the armys recruitment capacity – and training has already begun. Tinubu also approved a huge pay increase (from 30 to 80 per cent, depending on rank) for military personnel, as real wages have dwindled due to high inflation.While undoubtedly historic, Tinubus announcement begs some important questions. How tangible and transformative is this expansion, and how will it be paid for? Can the deployment of more soldiers translate into long-term security gains without fundamental security sector reform? And what opportunities does this expansion create for the Nigerias security assistance partners, such as the UK and the US?Does size matter? Related work Nigeria and Ghana foreign ministers discuss security, AES countries, Boko Haram and US operations Before answering these questions, it should be said that this expansion is long overdue. Nigeria has a population of roughly 240 million and is set to overtake the US as the worlds third most populous country by 2043. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army only has approximately 100,000 active personnel according to recent estimates. Its vast and growing population requires a larger military. Nigeria also needs more military capacity to address its many complex security challenges – insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and communal conflict, for example – that have proliferated in recent years, destabilizing parts of the country that were once considered safe.Stationing more soldiers outside of their traditional garrisons, especially in rural areas, would help protect vulnerable civilian targets and make it easier for the army to locate and eliminate remote safe havens used by bandit gangs and insurgent groups. Meanwhile, a greater military presence along Nigerias porous borders could improve operational coordination and intelligence sharing with army units in neighboring Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. This could help offset the decline in regional security cooperation that followed the 2025 withdrawal of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).That said, Tinubus expansion plan does not address many of the armys institutional challenges; a list that includes lacklustre leadership, poor operational planning, inadequate training, equipment shortfalls, endemic corruption and a dire human rights record. This suggests that Nigerias reform-resistant army could experience a sort of operational stagflation: becoming bigger but not better.Stagflation has already affected Nigerias defence budget, which – although appearing to have skyrocketed in recent years – has in fact grown only modestly in dollar terms, rising from $3.9 billion in 2021 to $4.7 billion in 2026. Moreover, the overall share of the national budget spent on defence actually decreased from 21 to 11 per cent during the same timeframe due to Nigerias rising debt burden and the steady devaluation of its currency, the naira. To pay for more soldiers and higher military salaries, President Tinubu will need to increase the defence budget, which may force cuts to infrastructure, health and education spending.It also remains to be seen whether the creation of new divisions, brigades and battalions will increase the armys operational capacity, or just make it even more top heavy. Already known for its woeful tooth-to-tail ratio – teeth meaning the combat troops and tail the support personnel – the Nigerian Army has far too many general officers for a force its size. According to one estimate, 30 per cent of all Nigerian military officers achieve general/flag officer rank, compared to no more than 3 per cent in many other countries. Until this dynamic changes, a disproportionate number of Nigerian soldiers will end up serving as orderlies, rather than patrolling communities to protect civilians.How to ensure bigger also means better Related work Navigating a path beyond regional division is essential for West Africas security Having taken the bold decision to increase the size of the countrys military, Nigerias leaders should look to maximize the impact of that investment by embracing key reforms. Tinubu could, for example, take steps to consolidate Nigerias sprawling security apparatus which now consists of an alphabet soup of security agencies that perform poorly and compete more than they cooperate. But in a country where politicians have long relied on agency-creation to build out their patronage networks, such bureaucratic streamlining will require sustained high-level impetus.Security sector consolidation would also alleviate pressure on the army if it freed up human and budget resources for Nigerias struggling police. This investment will be especially critical as Nigeria prepares to pass a constitutional amendment to allow states to create their own police forces. If trained and resourced effectively, state forces could work with the federal police to relieve the army of routine internal security duties, freeing troops up to tackle some of Nigerias toughest security challenges.Any domestic security sector reform effort, however modest, would also give Nigerias security assistance partners a clear opportunity to re-engage in ways that play to their strengths: planning and technical assistance, leadership training and education, and facilitating interagency cooperation and intelligence sharing. As partners like Britain and the US engage with Nigerias newly expanded army, they should stress to Nigerias leaders that security sector reform is the best way to ensure that bigger also means better. 

Nigeria will need more than a bigger army to tackle security challenges Nigeria will need more than a bigger army to tackle security challenges Expert comment LToremark 25 August 2026 Without accompanying reforms, the risk is that President Tinubus plan only makes Nigerias army bigger but not better. In July, President Bola Tinubu announced a major expansion of the Nigerian Army, adding four new divisions to its existing eight. Rather than framing it as a long-planned response to Nigerias many worsening security challenges, Tinubu indicated that the announcement was a direct response to a mass school kidnapping in his home region, the latest in a series of such attacks. Regardless, the groundbreaking decision has the potential to make Nigeria more secure.The expansion plan involves recruiting 28,000 soldiers and creating several new brigades and battalions in conflict-prone areas. Some of the troops will be trained at two new facilities built to expand the armys recruitment capacity – and training has already begun. Tinubu also approved a huge pay increase (from 30 to 80 per cent, depending on rank) for military personnel, as real wages have dwindled due to high inflation.While undoubtedly historic, Tinubus announcement begs some important questions. How tangible and transformative is this expansion, and how will it be paid for? Can the deployment of more soldiers translate into long-term security gains without fundamental security sector reform? And what opportunities does this expansion create for the Nigerias security assistance partners, such as the UK and the US?Does size matter? Related work Nigeria and Ghana foreign ministers discuss security, AES countries, Boko Haram and US operations Before answering these questions, it should be said that this expansion is long overdue. Nigeria has a population of roughly 240 million and is set to overtake the US as the worlds third most populous country by 2043. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army only has approximately 100,000 active personnel according to recent estimates. Its vast and growing population requires a larger military. Nigeria also needs more military capacity to address its many complex security challenges – insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and communal conflict, for example – that have proliferated in recent years, destabilizing parts of the country that were once considered safe.Stationing more soldiers outside of their traditional garrisons, especially in rural areas, would help protect vulnerable civilian targets and make it easier for the army to locate and eliminate remote safe havens used by bandit gangs and insurgent groups. Meanwhile, a greater military presence along Nigerias porous borders could improve operational coordination and intelligence sharing with army units in neighboring Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. This could help offset the decline in regional security cooperation that followed the 2025 withdrawal of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).That said, Tinubus expansion plan does not address many of the armys institutional challenges; a list that includes lacklustre leadership, poor operational planning, inadequate training, equipment shortfalls, endemic corruption and a dire human rights record. This suggests that Nigerias reform-resistant army could experience a sort of operational stagflation: becoming bigger but not better.Stagflation has already affected Nigerias defence budget, which – although appearing to have skyrocketed in recent years – has in fact grown only modestly in dollar terms, rising from $3.9 billion in 2021 to $4.7 billion in 2026. Moreover, the overall share of the national budget spent on defence actually decreased from 21 to 11 per cent during the same timeframe due to Nigerias rising debt burden and the steady devaluation of its currency, the naira. To pay for more soldiers and higher military salaries, President Tinubu will need to increase the defence budget, which may force cuts to infrastructure, health and education spending.It also remains to be seen whether the creation of new divisions, brigades and battalions will increase the armys operational capacity, or just make it even more top heavy. Already known for its woeful tooth-to-tail ratio – teeth meaning the combat troops and tail the support personnel – the Nigerian Army has far too many general officers for a force its size. According to one estimate, 30 per cent of all Nigerian military officers achieve general/flag officer rank, compared to no more than 3 per cent in many other countries. Until this dynamic changes, a disproportionate number of Nigerian soldiers will end up serving as orderlies, rather than patrolling communities to protect civilians.How to ensure bigger also means better Related work Navigating a path beyond regional division is essential for West Africas security Having taken the bold decision to increase the size of the countrys military, Nigerias leaders should look to maximize the impact of that investment by embracing key reforms. Tinubu could, for example, take steps to consolidate Nigerias sprawling security apparatus which now consists of an alphabet soup of security agencies that perform poorly and compete more than they cooperate. But in a country where politicians have long relied on agency-creation to build out their patronage networks, such bureaucratic streamlining will require sustained high-level impetus.Security sector consolidation would also alleviate pressure on the army if it freed up human and budget resources for Nigerias struggling police. This investment will be especially critical as Nigeria prepares to pass a constitutional amendment to allow states to create their own police forces. If trained and resourced effectively, state forces could work with the federal police to relieve the army of routine internal security duties, freeing troops up to tackle some of Nigerias toughest security challenges.Any domestic security sector reform effort, however modest, would also give Nigerias security assistance partners a clear opportunity to re-engage in ways that play to their strengths: planning and technical assistance, leadership training and education, and facilitating interagency cooperation and intelligence sharing. As partners like Britain and the US engage with Nigerias newly expanded army, they should stress to Nigerias leaders that security sector reform is the best way to ensure that bigger also means better. 

Nigeria will need more than a bigger army to tackle security challenges Nigeria will need more than a bigger army to tackle security challenges Expert comment LToremark 25 August 2026 Without accompanying reforms, the risk is that President Tinubus plan only makes Nigerias army bigger but not better. In July, President Bola Tinubu announced a major expansion of the Nigerian Army, adding four new divisions to its existing eight. Rather than framing it as a long-planned response to Nigerias many worsening security challenges, Tinubu indicated that the announcement was a direct response to a mass school kidnapping in his home region, the latest in a series of such attacks. Regardless, the groundbreaking decision has the potential to make Nigeria more secure.The expansion plan involves recruiting 28,000 soldiers and creating several new brigades and battalions in conflict-prone areas. Some of the troops will be trained at two new facilities built to expand the armys recruitment capacity – and training has already begun. Tinubu also approved a huge pay increase (from 30 to 80 per cent, depending on rank) for military personnel, as real wages have dwindled due to high inflation.While undoubtedly historic, Tinubus announcement begs some important questions. How tangible and transformative is this expansion, and how will it be paid for? Can the deployment of more soldiers translate into long-term security gains without fundamental security sector reform? And what opportunities does this expansion create for the Nigerias security assistance partners, such as the UK and the US?Does size matter? Related work Nigeria and Ghana foreign ministers discuss security, AES countries, Boko Haram and US operations Before answering these questions, it should be said that this expansion is long overdue. Nigeria has a population of roughly 240 million and is set to overtake the US as the worlds third most populous country by 2043. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army only has approximately 100,000 active personnel according to recent estimates. Its vast and growing population requires a larger military. Nigeria also needs more military capacity to address its many complex security challenges – insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and communal conflict, for example – that have proliferated in recent years, destabilizing parts of the country that were once considered safe.Stationing more soldiers outside of their traditional garrisons, especially in rural areas, would help protect vulnerable civilian targets and make it easier for the army to locate and eliminate remote safe havens used by bandit gangs and insurgent groups. Meanwhile, a greater military presence along Nigerias porous borders could improve operational coordination and intelligence sharing with army units in neighboring Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. This could help offset the decline in regional security cooperation that followed the 2025 withdrawal of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).That said, Tinubus expansion plan does not address many of the armys institutional challenges; a list that includes lacklustre leadership, poor operational planning, inadequate training, equipment shortfalls, endemic corruption and a dire human rights record. This suggests that Nigerias reform-resistant army could experience a sort of operational stagflation: becoming bigger but not better.Stagflation has already affected Nigerias defence budget, which – although appearing to have skyrocketed in recent years – has in fact grown only modestly in dollar terms, rising from $3.9 billion in 2021 to $4.7 billion in 2026. Moreover, the overall share of the national budget spent on defence actually decreased from 21 to 11 per cent during the same timeframe due to Nigerias rising debt burden and the steady devaluation of its currency, the naira. To pay for more soldiers and higher military salaries, President Tinubu will need to increase the defence budget, which may force cuts to infrastructure, health and education spending.It also remains to be seen whether the creation of new divisions, brigades and battalions will increase the armys operational capacity, or just make it even more top heavy. Already known for its woeful tooth-to-tail ratio – teeth meaning the combat troops and tail the support personnel – the Nigerian Army has far too many general officers for a force its size. According to one estimate, 30 per cent of all Nigerian military officers achieve general/flag officer rank, compared to no more than 3 per cent in many other countries. Until this dynamic changes, a disproportionate number of Nigerian soldiers will end up serving as orderlies, rather than patrolling communities to protect civilians.How to ensure bigger also means better Related work Navigating a path beyond regional division is essential for West Africas security Having taken the bold decision to increase the size of the countrys military, Nigerias leaders should look to maximize the impact of that investment by embracing key reforms. Tinubu could, for example, take steps to consolidate Nigerias sprawling security apparatus which now consists of an alphabet soup of security agencies that perform poorly and compete more than they cooperate. But in a country where politicians have long relied on agency-creation to build out their patronage networks, such bureaucratic streamlining will require sustained high-level impetus.Security sector consolidation would also alleviate pressure on the army if it freed up human and budget resources for Nigerias struggling police. This investment will be especially critical as Nigeria prepares to pass a constitutional amendment to allow states to create their own police forces. If trained and resourced effectively, state forces could work with the federal police to relieve the army of routine internal security duties, freeing troops up to tackle some of Nigerias toughest security challenges.Any domestic security sector reform effort, however modest, would also give Nigerias security assistance partners a clear opportunity to re-engage in ways that play to their strengths: planning and technical assistance, leadership training and education, and facilitating interagency cooperation and intelligence sharing. As partners like Britain and the US engage with Nigerias newly expanded army, they should stress to Nigerias leaders that security sector reform is the best way to ensure that bigger also means better. 

Nigeria will need more than a bigger army to tackle security challenges Nigeria will need more than a bigger army to tackle security challenges Expert comment LToremark 25 August 2026 Without accompanying reforms, the risk is that President Tinubus plan only makes Nigerias army bigger but not better. In July, President Bola Tinubu announced a major expansion of the Nigerian Army, adding four new divisions to its existing eight. Rather than framing it as a long-planned response to Nigerias many worsening security challenges, Tinubu indicated that the announcement was a direct response to a mass school kidnapping in his home region, the latest in a series of such attacks. Regardless, the groundbreaking decision has the potential to make Nigeria more secure.The expansion plan involves recruiting 28,000 soldiers and creating several new brigades and battalions in conflict-prone areas. Some of the troops will be trained at two new facilities built to expand the armys recruitment capacity – and training has already begun. Tinubu also approved a huge pay increase (from 30 to 80 per cent, depending on rank) for military personnel, as real wages have dwindled due to high inflation.While undoubtedly historic, Tinubus announcement begs some important questions. How tangible and transformative is this expansion, and how will it be paid for? Can the deployment of more soldiers translate into long-term security gains without fundamental security sector reform? And what opportunities does this expansion create for the Nigerias security assistance partners, such as the UK and the US?Does size matter? Related work Nigeria and Ghana foreign ministers discuss security, AES countries, Boko Haram and US operations Before answering these questions, it should be said that this expansion is long overdue. Nigeria has a population of roughly 240 million and is set to overtake the US as the worlds third most populous country by 2043. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army only has approximately 100,000 active personnel according to recent estimates. Its vast and growing population requires a larger military. Nigeria also needs more military capacity to address its many complex security challenges – insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and communal conflict, for example – that have proliferated in recent years, destabilizing parts of the country that were once considered safe.Stationing more soldiers outside of their traditional garrisons, especially in rural areas, would help protect vulnerable civilian targets and make it easier for the army to locate and eliminate remote safe havens used by bandit gangs and insurgent groups. Meanwhile, a greater military presence along Nigerias porous borders could improve operational coordination and intelligence sharing with army units in neighboring Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. This could help offset the decline in regional security cooperation that followed the 2025 withdrawal of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).That said, Tinubus expansion plan does not address many of the armys institutional challenges; a list that includes lacklustre leadership, poor operational planning, inadequate training, equipment shortfalls, endemic corruption and a dire human rights record. This suggests that Nigerias reform-resistant army could experience a sort of operational stagflation: becoming bigger but not better.Stagflation has already affected Nigerias defence budget, which – although appearing to have skyrocketed in recent years – has in fact grown only modestly in dollar terms, rising from $3.9 billion in 2021 to $4.7 billion in 2026. Moreover, the overall share of the national budget spent on defence actually decreased from 21 to 11 per cent during the same timeframe due to Nigerias rising debt burden and the steady devaluation of its currency, the naira. To pay for more soldiers and higher military salaries, President Tinubu will need to increase the defence budget, which may force cuts to infrastructure, health and education spending.It also remains to be seen whether the creation of new divisions, brigades and battalions will increase the armys operational capacity, or just make it even more top heavy. Already known for its woeful tooth-to-tail ratio – teeth meaning the combat troops and tail the support personnel – the Nigerian Army has far too many general officers for a force its size. According to one estimate, 30 per cent of all Nigerian military officers achieve general/flag officer rank, compared to no more than 3 per cent in many other countries. Until this dynamic changes, a disproportionate number of Nigerian soldiers will end up serving as orderlies, rather than patrolling communities to protect civilians.How to ensure bigger also means better Related work Navigating a path beyond regional division is essential for West Africas security Having taken the bold decision to increase the size of the countrys military, Nigerias leaders should look to maximize the impact of that investment by embracing key reforms. Tinubu could, for example, take steps to consolidate Nigerias sprawling security apparatus which now consists of an alphabet soup of security agencies that perform poorly and compete more than they cooperate. But in a country where politicians have long relied on agency-creation to build out their patronage networks, such bureaucratic streamlining will require sustained high-level impetus.Security sector consolidation would also alleviate pressure on the army if it freed up human and budget resources for Nigerias struggling police. This investment will be especially critical as Nigeria prepares to pass a constitutional amendment to allow states to create their own police forces. If trained and resourced effectively, state forces could work with the federal police to relieve the army of routine internal security duties, freeing troops up to tackle some of Nigerias toughest security challenges.Any domestic security sector reform effort, however modest, would also give Nigerias security assistance partners a clear opportunity to re-engage in ways that play to their strengths: planning and technical assistance, leadership training and education, and facilitating interagency cooperation and intelligence sharing. As partners like Britain and the US engage with Nigerias newly expanded army, they should stress to Nigerias leaders that security sector reform is the best way to ensure that bigger also means better. 

Nigeria will need more than a bigger army to tackle security challenges Nigeria will need more than a bigger army to tackle security challenges Expert comment LToremark 25 August 2026 Without accompanying reforms, the risk is that President Tinubus plan only makes Nigerias army bigger but not better. In July, President Bola Tinubu announced a major expansion of the Nigerian Army, adding four new divisions to its existing eight. Rather than framing it as a long-planned response to Nigerias many worsening security challenges, Tinubu indicated that the announcement was a direct response to a mass school kidnapping in his home region, the latest in a series of such attacks. Regardless, the groundbreaking decision has the potential to make Nigeria more secure.The expansion plan involves recruiting 28,000 soldiers and creating several new brigades and battalions in conflict-prone areas. Some of the troops will be trained at two new facilities built to expand the armys recruitment capacity – and training has already begun. Tinubu also approved a huge pay increase (from 30 to 80 per cent, depending on rank) for military personnel, as real wages have dwindled due to high inflation.While undoubtedly historic, Tinubus announcement begs some important questions. How tangible and transformative is this expansion, and how will it be paid for? Can the deployment of more soldiers translate into long-term security gains without fundamental security sector reform? And what opportunities does this expansion create for the Nigerias security assistance partners, such as the UK and the US?Does size matter? Related work Nigeria and Ghana foreign ministers discuss security, AES countries, Boko Haram and US operations Before answering these questions, it should be said that this expansion is long overdue. Nigeria has a population of roughly 240 million and is set to overtake the US as the worlds third most populous country by 2043. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army only has approximately 100,000 active personnel according to recent estimates. Its vast and growing population requires a larger military. Nigeria also needs more military capacity to address its many complex security challenges – insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and communal conflict, for example – that have proliferated in recent years, destabilizing parts of the country that were once considered safe.Stationing more soldiers outside of their traditional garrisons, especially in rural areas, would help protect vulnerable civilian targets and make it easier for the army to locate and eliminate remote safe havens used by bandit gangs and insurgent groups. Meanwhile, a greater military presence along Nigerias porous borders could improve operational coordination and intelligence sharing with army units in neighboring Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. This could help offset the decline in regional security cooperation that followed the 2025 withdrawal of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).That said, Tinubus expansion plan does not address many of the armys institutional challenges; a list that includes lacklustre leadership, poor operational planning, inadequate training, equipment shortfalls, endemic corruption and a dire human rights record. This suggests that Nigerias reform-resistant army could experience a sort of operational stagflation: becoming bigger but not better.Stagflation has already affected Nigerias defence budget, which – although appearing to have skyrocketed in recent years – has in fact grown only modestly in dollar terms, rising from $3.9 billion in 2021 to $4.7 billion in 2026. Moreover, the overall share of the national budget spent on defence actually decreased from 21 to 11 per cent during the same timeframe due to Nigerias rising debt burden and the steady devaluation of its currency, the naira. To pay for more soldiers and higher military salaries, President Tinubu will need to increase the defence budget, which may force cuts to infrastructure, health and education spending.It also remains to be seen whether the creation of new divisions, brigades and battalions will increase the armys operational capacity, or just make it even more top heavy. Already known for its woeful tooth-to-tail ratio – teeth meaning the combat troops and tail the support personnel – the Nigerian Army has far too many general officers for a force its size. According to one estimate, 30 per cent of all Nigerian military officers achieve general/flag officer rank, compared to no more than 3 per cent in many other countries. Until this dynamic changes, a disproportionate number of Nigerian soldiers will end up serving as orderlies, rather than patrolling communities to protect civilians.How to ensure bigger also means better Related work Navigating a path beyond regional division is essential for West Africas security Having taken the bold decision to increase the size of the countrys military, Nigerias leaders should look to maximize the impact of that investment by embracing key reforms. Tinubu could, for example, take steps to consolidate Nigerias sprawling security apparatus which now consists of an alphabet soup of security agencies that perform poorly and compete more than they cooperate. But in a country where politicians have long relied on agency-creation to build out their patronage networks, such bureaucratic streamlining will require sustained high-level impetus.Security sector consolidation would also alleviate pressure on the army if it freed up human and budget resources for Nigerias struggling police. This investment will be especially critical as Nigeria prepares to pass a constitutional amendment to allow states to create their own police forces. If trained and resourced effectively, state forces could work with the federal police to relieve the army of routine internal security duties, freeing troops up to tackle some of Nigerias toughest security challenges.Any domestic security sector reform effort, however modest, would also give Nigerias security assistance partners a clear opportunity to re-engage in ways that play to their strengths: planning and technical assistance, leadership training and education, and facilitating interagency cooperation and intelligence sharing. As partners like Britain and the US engage with Nigerias newly expanded army, they should stress to Nigerias leaders that security sector reform is the best way to ensure that bigger also means better. 

The summer of 26: A turning point for the climate crisis? The summer of 26: A turning point for the climate crisis? Audio sseth.drupal@c… 21 August 2026 In this weeks episode of Independent Thinking, our experts discuss the record-breaking temperatures seen across Europe this summer and what it means for the climate crisis. The climate crisis has seldom been dramatized so vividly as in the summer of 2026. Apocalyptic fires, widespread droughts and drained rivers in Europe made clear a worsening situation that even the most fervent denier cant wave away. But is there the necessary time, commitment and technology to slow or reverse the climate spiral – even in the face of a US administration that is committed to fossil fuels? How do the two approaches of mitigation and adaptation translate into real life on the ground? And is there any good news amid the smoke and gloom?Bronwen Maddox is joined by water and climate specialist Dr Beatrice Mosello and sustainability expert Dr Patrick Schröder from Chatham House, and special guest Oliver Morton, The Economists planetary affairs correspondent.About Independent ThinkingIndependent Thinking is a weekly international affairs podcast hosted by our director Bronwen Maddox, in conversation with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts providing insight on the latest international issues.More ways to listen: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Explore our other Chatham House podcasts.

The summer of 26: A turning point for the climate crisis? The summer of 26: A turning point for the climate crisis? Audio sseth.drupal@c… 21 August 2026 In this weeks episode of Independent Thinking, our experts discuss the record-breaking temperatures seen across Europe this summer and what it means for the climate crisis. The climate crisis has seldom been dramatized so vividly as in the summer of 2026. Apocalyptic fires, widespread droughts and drained rivers in Europe made clear a worsening situation that even the most fervent denier cant wave away. But is there the necessary time, commitment and technology to slow or reverse the climate spiral – even in the face of a US administration that is committed to fossil fuels? How do the two approaches of mitigation and adaptation translate into real life on the ground? And is there any good news amid the smoke and gloom?Bronwen Maddox is joined by water and climate specialist Dr Beatrice Mosello and sustainability expert Dr Patrick Schröder from Chatham House, and special guest Oliver Morton, The Economists planetary affairs correspondent.About Independent ThinkingIndependent Thinking is a weekly international affairs podcast hosted by our director Bronwen Maddox, in conversation with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts providing insight on the latest international issues.More ways to listen: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Explore our other Chatham House podcasts.

The summer of 26: A turning point for the climate crisis? The summer of 26: A turning point for the climate crisis? Audio sseth.drupal@c… 21 August 2026 In this weeks episode of Independent Thinking, our experts discuss the record-breaking temperatures seen across Europe this summer and what it means for the climate crisis. The climate crisis has seldom been dramatized so vividly as in the summer of 2026. Apocalyptic fires, widespread droughts and drained rivers in Europe made clear a worsening situation that even the most fervent denier cant wave away. But is there the necessary time, commitment and technology to slow or reverse the climate spiral – even in the face of a US administration that is committed to fossil fuels? How do the two approaches of mitigation and adaptation translate into real life on the ground? And is there any good news amid the smoke and gloom?Bronwen Maddox is joined by water and climate specialist Dr Beatrice Mosello and sustainability expert Dr Patrick Schröder from Chatham House, and special guest Oliver Morton, The Economists planetary affairs correspondent.About Independent ThinkingIndependent Thinking is a weekly international affairs podcast hosted by our director Bronwen Maddox, in conversation with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts providing insight on the latest international issues.More ways to listen: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Explore our other Chatham House podcasts.

The summer of 26: A turning point for the climate crisis? The summer of 26: A turning point for the climate crisis? Audio sseth.drupal@c… 21 August 2026 In this weeks episode of Independent Thinking, our experts discuss the record-breaking temperatures seen across Europe this summer and what it means for the climate crisis. The climate crisis has seldom been dramatized so vividly as in the summer of 2026. Apocalyptic fires, widespread droughts and drained rivers in Europe made clear a worsening situation that even the most fervent denier cant wave away. But is there the necessary time, commitment and technology to slow or reverse the climate spiral – even in the face of a US administration that is committed to fossil fuels? How do the two approaches of mitigation and adaptation translate into real life on the ground? And is there any good news amid the smoke and gloom?Bronwen Maddox is joined by water and climate specialist Dr Beatrice Mosello and sustainability expert Dr Patrick Schröder from Chatham House, and special guest Oliver Morton, The Economists planetary affairs correspondent.About Independent ThinkingIndependent Thinking is a weekly international affairs podcast hosted by our director Bronwen Maddox, in conversation with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts providing insight on the latest international issues.More ways to listen: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Explore our other Chatham House podcasts.

The summer of 26: A turning point for the climate crisis? The summer of 26: A turning point for the climate crisis? Audio sseth.drupal@c… 21 August 2026 In this weeks episode of Independent Thinking, our experts discuss the record-breaking temperatures seen across Europe this summer and what it means for the climate crisis. The climate crisis has seldom been dramatized so vividly as in the summer of 2026. Apocalyptic fires, widespread droughts and drained rivers in Europe made clear a worsening situation that even the most fervent denier cant wave away. But is there the necessary time, commitment and technology to slow or reverse the climate spiral – even in the face of a US administration that is committed to fossil fuels? How do the two approaches of mitigation and adaptation translate into real life on the ground? And is there any good news amid the smoke and gloom?Bronwen Maddox is joined by water and climate specialist Dr Beatrice Mosello and sustainability expert Dr Patrick Schröder from Chatham House, and special guest Oliver Morton, The Economists planetary affairs correspondent.About Independent ThinkingIndependent Thinking is a weekly international affairs podcast hosted by our director Bronwen Maddox, in conversation with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts providing insight on the latest international issues.More ways to listen: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Explore our other Chatham House podcasts.

The summer of 26: A turning point for the climate crisis? The summer of 26: A turning point for the climate crisis? Audio sseth.drupal@c… 21 August 2026 In this weeks episode of Independent Thinking, our experts discuss the record-breaking temperatures seen across Europe this summer and what it means for the climate crisis. The climate crisis has seldom been dramatized so vividly as in the summer of 2026. Apocalyptic fires, widespread droughts and drained rivers in Europe made clear a worsening situation that even the most fervent denier cant wave away. But is there the necessary time, commitment and technology to slow or reverse the climate spiral – even in the face of a US administration that is committed to fossil fuels? How do the two approaches of mitigation and adaptation translate into real life on the ground? And is there any good news amid the smoke and gloom?Bronwen Maddox is joined by water and climate specialist Dr Beatrice Mosello and sustainability expert Dr Patrick Schröder from Chatham House, and special guest Oliver Morton, The Economists planetary affairs correspondent.About Independent ThinkingIndependent Thinking is a weekly international affairs podcast hosted by our director Bronwen Maddox, in conversation with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts providing insight on the latest international issues.More ways to listen: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Explore our other Chatham House podcasts.

The summer of 26: A turning point for the climate crisis? The summer of 26: A turning point for the climate crisis? Audio sseth.drupal@c… 21 August 2026 In this weeks episode of Independent Thinking, our experts discuss the record-breaking temperatures seen across Europe this summer and what it means for the climate crisis. The climate crisis has seldom been dramatized so vividly as in the summer of 2026. Apocalyptic fires, widespread droughts and drained rivers in Europe made clear a worsening situation that even the most fervent denier cant wave away. But is there the necessary time, commitment and technology to slow or reverse the climate spiral – even in the face of a US administration that is committed to fossil fuels? How do the two approaches of mitigation and adaptation translate into real life on the ground? And is there any good news amid the smoke and gloom?Bronwen Maddox is joined by water and climate specialist Dr Beatrice Mosello and sustainability expert Dr Patrick Schröder from Chatham House, and special guest Oliver Morton, The Economists planetary affairs correspondent.About Independent ThinkingIndependent Thinking is a weekly international affairs podcast hosted by our director Bronwen Maddox, in conversation with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts providing insight on the latest international issues.More ways to listen: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Explore our other Chatham House podcasts.

The summer of 26: A turning point for the climate crisis? The summer of 26: A turning point for the climate crisis? Audio sseth.drupal@c… 21 August 2026 In this weeks episode of Independent Thinking, our experts discuss the record-breaking temperatures seen across Europe this summer and what it means for the climate crisis. The climate crisis has seldom been dramatized so vividly as in the summer of 2026. Apocalyptic fires, widespread droughts and drained rivers in Europe made clear a worsening situation that even the most fervent denier cant wave away. But is there the necessary time, commitment and technology to slow or reverse the climate spiral – even in the face of a US administration that is committed to fossil fuels? How do the two approaches of mitigation and adaptation translate into real life on the ground? And is there any good news amid the smoke and gloom?Bronwen Maddox is joined by water and climate specialist Dr Beatrice Mosello and sustainability expert Dr Patrick Schröder from Chatham House, and special guest Oliver Morton, The Economists planetary affairs correspondent.About Independent ThinkingIndependent Thinking is a weekly international affairs podcast hosted by our director Bronwen Maddox, in conversation with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts providing insight on the latest international issues.More ways to listen: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Explore our other Chatham House podcasts.

The summer of 26: A turning point for the climate crisis? The summer of 26: A turning point for the climate crisis? Audio sseth.drupal@c… 21 August 2026 In this weeks episode of Independent Thinking, our experts discuss the record-breaking temperatures seen across Europe this summer and what it means for the climate crisis. The climate crisis has seldom been dramatized so vividly as in the summer of 2026. Apocalyptic fires, widespread droughts and drained rivers in Europe made clear a worsening situation that even the most fervent denier cant wave away. But is there the necessary time, commitment and technology to slow or reverse the climate spiral – even in the face of a US administration that is committed to fossil fuels? How do the two approaches of mitigation and adaptation translate into real life on the ground? And is there any good news amid the smoke and gloom?Bronwen Maddox is joined by water and climate specialist Dr Beatrice Mosello and sustainability expert Dr Patrick Schröder from Chatham House, and special guest Oliver Morton, The Economists planetary affairs correspondent.About Independent ThinkingIndependent Thinking is a weekly international affairs podcast hosted by our director Bronwen Maddox, in conversation with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts providing insight on the latest international issues.More ways to listen: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Explore our other Chatham House podcasts.

The summer of 26: A turning point for the climate crisis? The summer of 26: A turning point for the climate crisis? Audio sseth.drupal@c… 21 August 2026 In this weeks episode of Independent Thinking, our experts discuss the record-breaking temperatures seen across Europe this summer and what it means for the climate crisis. The climate crisis has seldom been dramatized so vividly as in the summer of 2026. Apocalyptic fires, widespread droughts and drained rivers in Europe made clear a worsening situation that even the most fervent denier cant wave away. But is there the necessary time, commitment and technology to slow or reverse the climate spiral – even in the face of a US administration that is committed to fossil fuels? How do the two approaches of mitigation and adaptation translate into real life on the ground? And is there any good news amid the smoke and gloom?Bronwen Maddox is joined by water and climate specialist Dr Beatrice Mosello and sustainability expert Dr Patrick Schröder from Chatham House, and special guest Oliver Morton, The Economists planetary affairs correspondent.About Independent ThinkingIndependent Thinking is a weekly international affairs podcast hosted by our director Bronwen Maddox, in conversation with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts providing insight on the latest international issues.More ways to listen: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Explore our other Chatham House podcasts.

The summer of 26: A turning point for the climate crisis? The summer of 26: A turning point for the climate crisis? Audio sseth.drupal@c… 21 August 2026 In this weeks episode of Independent Thinking, our experts discuss the record-breaking temperatures seen across Europe this summer and what it means for the climate crisis. The climate crisis has seldom been dramatized so vividly as in the summer of 2026. Apocalyptic fires, widespread droughts and drained rivers in Europe made clear a worsening situation that even the most fervent denier cant wave away. But is there the necessary time, commitment and technology to slow or reverse the climate spiral – even in the face of a US administration that is committed to fossil fuels? How do the two approaches of mitigation and adaptation translate into real life on the ground? And is there any good news amid the smoke and gloom?Bronwen Maddox is joined by water and climate specialist Dr Beatrice Mosello and sustainability expert Dr Patrick Schröder from Chatham House, and special guest Oliver Morton, The Economists planetary affairs correspondent.About Independent ThinkingIndependent Thinking is a weekly international affairs podcast hosted by our director Bronwen Maddox, in conversation with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts providing insight on the latest international issues.More ways to listen: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Explore our other Chatham House podcasts.

Africa Aware: What can Lagos teach us about Africas emerging megacities? Africa Aware: What can Lagos teach us about Africas emerging megacities? Audio thilton.drupal 20 August 2026 Lagos State Governor HE Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu discusses how Lagos is developing solutions to manage rapid population growth and deliver infrastructure at scale – all catered to its unique context. By 2050, many of the worlds fastest-growing cities will be in Africa, and the choices made today will define how hundreds of millions of people will live then. A city like Lagos whose scale, economic dynamism and growth capture the opportunities and complexities of this transformation stands out as one of the worlds leading megacities.   In this episode, the governor of Lagos State, HE Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu joins Africa Programme Director and this weeks host, Tighisti Amare, to discuss how Lagos is developing solutions to manage rapid population growth and deliver infrastructure at scale – all catered to its unique context. About Africa Aware Africa Aware is a podcast from the Chatham House Africa Programme bringing together leading international experts to provide in-depth analysis and sharp insights on the political, economic and social issues shaping African countries, their international relations and the continent as a whole. You can also listen to Africa Aware on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Africa Aware: What can Lagos teach us about Africas emerging megacities? Africa Aware: What can Lagos teach us about Africas emerging megacities? Audio thilton.drupal 20 August 2026 Lagos State Governor HE Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu discusses how Lagos is developing solutions to manage rapid population growth and deliver infrastructure at scale – all catered to its unique context. By 2050, many of the worlds fastest-growing cities will be in Africa, and the choices made today will define how hundreds of millions of people will live then. A city like Lagos whose scale, economic dynamism and growth capture the opportunities and complexities of this transformation stands out as one of the worlds leading megacities.   In this episode, the governor of Lagos State, HE Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu joins Africa Programme Director and this weeks host, Tighisti Amare, to discuss how Lagos is developing solutions to manage rapid population growth and deliver infrastructure at scale – all catered to its unique context. About Africa Aware Africa Aware is a podcast from the Chatham House Africa Programme bringing together leading international experts to provide in-depth analysis and sharp insights on the political, economic and social issues shaping African countries, their international relations and the continent as a whole. You can also listen to Africa Aware on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Africa Aware: What can Lagos teach us about Africas emerging megacities? Africa Aware: What can Lagos teach us about Africas emerging megacities? Audio thilton.drupal 20 August 2026 Lagos State Governor HE Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu discusses how Lagos is developing solutions to manage rapid population growth and deliver infrastructure at scale – all catered to its unique context. By 2050, many of the worlds fastest-growing cities will be in Africa, and the choices made today will define how hundreds of millions of people will live then. A city like Lagos whose scale, economic dynamism and growth capture the opportunities and complexities of this transformation stands out as one of the worlds leading megacities.   In this episode, the governor of Lagos State, HE Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu joins Africa Programme Director and this weeks host, Tighisti Amare, to discuss how Lagos is developing solutions to manage rapid population growth and deliver infrastructure at scale – all catered to its unique context. About Africa Aware Africa Aware is a podcast from the Chatham House Africa Programme bringing together leading international experts to provide in-depth analysis and sharp insights on the political, economic and social issues shaping African countries, their international relations and the continent as a whole. You can also listen to Africa Aware on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Africa Aware: What can Lagos teach us about Africas emerging megacities? Africa Aware: What can Lagos teach us about Africas emerging megacities? Audio thilton.drupal 20 August 2026 Lagos State Governor HE Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu discusses how Lagos is developing solutions to manage rapid population growth and deliver infrastructure at scale – all catered to its unique context. By 2050, many of the worlds fastest-growing cities will be in Africa, and the choices made today will define how hundreds of millions of people will live then. A city like Lagos whose scale, economic dynamism and growth capture the opportunities and complexities of this transformation stands out as one of the worlds leading megacities.   In this episode, the governor of Lagos State, HE Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu joins Africa Programme Director and this weeks host, Tighisti Amare, to discuss how Lagos is developing solutions to manage rapid population growth and deliver infrastructure at scale – all catered to its unique context. About Africa Aware Africa Aware is a podcast from the Chatham House Africa Programme bringing together leading international experts to provide in-depth analysis and sharp insights on the political, economic and social issues shaping African countries, their international relations and the continent as a whole. You can also listen to Africa Aware on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Africa Aware: What can Lagos teach us about Africas emerging megacities? Africa Aware: What can Lagos teach us about Africas emerging megacities? Audio thilton.drupal 20 August 2026 Lagos State Governor HE Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu discusses how Lagos is developing solutions to manage rapid population growth and deliver infrastructure at scale – all catered to its unique context. By 2050, many of the worlds fastest-growing cities will be in Africa, and the choices made today will define how hundreds of millions of people will live then. A city like Lagos whose scale, economic dynamism and growth capture the opportunities and complexities of this transformation stands out as one of the worlds leading megacities.   In this episode, the governor of Lagos State, HE Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu joins Africa Programme Director and this weeks host, Tighisti Amare, to discuss how Lagos is developing solutions to manage rapid population growth and deliver infrastructure at scale – all catered to its unique context. About Africa Aware Africa Aware is a podcast from the Chatham House Africa Programme bringing together leading international experts to provide in-depth analysis and sharp insights on the political, economic and social issues shaping African countries, their international relations and the continent as a whole. You can also listen to Africa Aware on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Africa Aware: What can Lagos teach us about Africas emerging megacities? Africa Aware: What can Lagos teach us about Africas emerging megacities? Audio thilton.drupal 20 August 2026 Lagos State Governor HE Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu discusses how Lagos is developing solutions to manage rapid population growth and deliver infrastructure at scale – all catered to its unique context. By 2050, many of the worlds fastest-growing cities will be in Africa, and the choices made today will define how hundreds of millions of people will live then. A city like Lagos whose scale, economic dynamism and growth capture the opportunities and complexities of this transformation stands out as one of the worlds leading megacities.   In this episode, the governor of Lagos State, HE Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu joins Africa Programme Director and this weeks host, Tighisti Amare, to discuss how Lagos is developing solutions to manage rapid population growth and deliver infrastructure at scale – all catered to its unique context. About Africa Aware Africa Aware is a podcast from the Chatham House Africa Programme bringing together leading international experts to provide in-depth analysis and sharp insights on the political, economic and social issues shaping African countries, their international relations and the continent as a whole. You can also listen to Africa Aware on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Africa Aware: What can Lagos teach us about Africas emerging megacities? Africa Aware: What can Lagos teach us about Africas emerging megacities? Audio thilton.drupal 20 August 2026 Lagos State Governor HE Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu discusses how Lagos is developing solutions to manage rapid population growth and deliver infrastructure at scale – all catered to its unique context. By 2050, many of the worlds fastest-growing cities will be in Africa, and the choices made today will define how hundreds of millions of people will live then. A city like Lagos whose scale, economic dynamism and growth capture the opportunities and complexities of this transformation stands out as one of the worlds leading megacities.   In this episode, the governor of Lagos State, HE Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu joins Africa Programme Director and this weeks host, Tighisti Amare, to discuss how Lagos is developing solutions to manage rapid population growth and deliver infrastructure at scale – all catered to its unique context. About Africa Aware Africa Aware is a podcast from the Chatham House Africa Programme bringing together leading international experts to provide in-depth analysis and sharp insights on the political, economic and social issues shaping African countries, their international relations and the continent as a whole. You can also listen to Africa Aware on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Africa Aware: What can Lagos teach us about Africas emerging megacities? Africa Aware: What can Lagos teach us about Africas emerging megacities? Audio thilton.drupal 20 August 2026 Lagos State Governor HE Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu discusses how Lagos is developing solutions to manage rapid population growth and deliver infrastructure at scale – all catered to its unique context. By 2050, many of the worlds fastest-growing cities will be in Africa, and the choices made today will define how hundreds of millions of people will live then. A city like Lagos whose scale, economic dynamism and growth capture the opportunities and complexities of this transformation stands out as one of the worlds leading megacities.   In this episode, the governor of Lagos State, HE Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu joins Africa Programme Director and this weeks host, Tighisti Amare, to discuss how Lagos is developing solutions to manage rapid population growth and deliver infrastructure at scale – all catered to its unique context. About Africa Aware Africa Aware is a podcast from the Chatham House Africa Programme bringing together leading international experts to provide in-depth analysis and sharp insights on the political, economic and social issues shaping African countries, their international relations and the continent as a whole. You can also listen to Africa Aware on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Africa Aware: What can Lagos teach us about Africas emerging megacities? Africa Aware: What can Lagos teach us about Africas emerging megacities? Audio thilton.drupal 20 August 2026 Lagos State Governor HE Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu discusses how Lagos is developing solutions to manage rapid population growth and deliver infrastructure at scale – all catered to its unique context. By 2050, many of the worlds fastest-growing cities will be in Africa, and the choices made today will define how hundreds of millions of people will live then. A city like Lagos whose scale, economic dynamism and growth capture the opportunities and complexities of this transformation stands out as one of the worlds leading megacities.   In this episode, the governor of Lagos State, HE Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu joins Africa Programme Director and this weeks host, Tighisti Amare, to discuss how Lagos is developing solutions to manage rapid population growth and deliver infrastructure at scale – all catered to its unique context. About Africa Aware Africa Aware is a podcast from the Chatham House Africa Programme bringing together leading international experts to provide in-depth analysis and sharp insights on the political, economic and social issues shaping African countries, their international relations and the continent as a whole. You can also listen to Africa Aware on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Africa Aware: What can Lagos teach us about Africas emerging megacities? Africa Aware: What can Lagos teach us about Africas emerging megacities? Audio thilton.drupal 20 August 2026 Lagos State Governor HE Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu discusses how Lagos is developing solutions to manage rapid population growth and deliver infrastructure at scale – all catered to its unique context. By 2050, many of the worlds fastest-growing cities will be in Africa, and the choices made today will define how hundreds of millions of people will live then. A city like Lagos whose scale, economic dynamism and growth capture the opportunities and complexities of this transformation stands out as one of the worlds leading megacities.   In this episode, the governor of Lagos State, HE Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu joins Africa Programme Director and this weeks host, Tighisti Amare, to discuss how Lagos is developing solutions to manage rapid population growth and deliver infrastructure at scale – all catered to its unique context. About Africa Aware Africa Aware is a podcast from the Chatham House Africa Programme bringing together leading international experts to provide in-depth analysis and sharp insights on the political, economic and social issues shaping African countries, their international relations and the continent as a whole. You can also listen to Africa Aware on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.