Nigeria’s worsening security crisis has come under renewed scrutiny despite a sharp increase in government spending on defence and security operations. Data from the Open Treasury Portal shows that the Federal Government spent ₦57.78 billion on security-related projects and operations between January and April 2026, representing a 127.97 per cent increase from the ₦25.35 billion spent during the same period in 2025.
The expenditure covered defence equipment procurement, security infrastructure, military barracks, police facilities, and other security-related projects. Of the total amount spent, ₦21.39 billion was allocated to defence equipment procurement, accounting for 37 per cent of overall spending, while ₦14.16 billion went into security equipment. The government also spent ₦5.84 billion on military barracks construction, ₦5.17 billion on police stations and barracks, and ₦3.26 billion on the rehabilitation of defence equipment. Routine security operations received ₦3 billion, while ₦320.94 million was released as security votes.
However, concerns have emerged over the implementation of key security allocations, as some critical budget lines recorded no expenditure despite receiving funding. These include Operation Lafiya Dole and other operations of the Armed Forces, which had a budgetary allocation of ₦500 million, and the kitting of Armed Forces personnel, which was allocated ₦2.53 billion. Analysts noted that several projects recorded implementation rates of less than three per cent, raising questions about the effectiveness of budget execution.
The increased spending comes at a time when violent attacks, kidnappings, and banditry continue to spread across the country. A recent police report revealed that 98 criminal incidents were recorded nationwide within a single week, including 37 homicide cases, 27 banditry attacks, 24 kidnappings, eight armed robberies, and two terrorism-related incidents. The attacks occurred across several states, including Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Kebbi, and others.
Among the most disturbing incidents was the abduction of 39 residents in Zamfara State after they entered the Fadama Forest to negotiate peace with a notorious bandit leader. In Katsina State, bandits reportedly blocked the Katsina-Kankara highway and intercepted a commercial vehicle carrying 11 passengers. Although police operatives rescued nine of the victims, two passengers remain unaccounted for.
Security experts say the situation reflects deep-rooted challenges that cannot be addressed through military spending alone. Security analyst Lekan Jackson-Ojo described the current situation as the highest level of insecurity in Nigeria’s history, noting that even senior military officers have been killed in recent months without significant retaliation against the perpetrators. He also criticised the policy of reintegrating repentant terrorists into society, arguing that it reflects a lack of political will and government helplessness in tackling the crisis.
Another security analyst, Chidi Omeje, said the military is currently overstretched, with personnel deployed across more than 30 counter-terrorism operations nationwide. According to him, the country’s security challenges are driven not only by armed groups but also by poor governance, corruption, widespread poverty, and porous borders. He further warned that instability across the Sahel region continues to spill into Nigeria, making the country increasingly attractive to terrorist groups and other criminal elements.
The experts stressed that insecurity is taking a heavy toll on the economy, discouraging investment and weakening public confidence in government institutions. They called for stronger border control, improved intelligence gathering, better budget implementation, and broader governance reforms to address the root causes of violence. While Nigeria continues to increase its security spending, the persistence of widespread attacks and the slow utilisation of key security funds suggest that more comprehensive and strategic measures will be required to effectively confront the country’s growing security challenges.
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