Amid worsening insecurity across Nigeria and the continued loss of lives to terrorism, banditry, and violent attacks, fresh revelations have exposed the severe underfunding of the nation’s military, particularly in the procurement of critical defence and security equipment. Official records from the Federal Government’s Open Treasury Portal show that in 2025, the Nigerian Army received only 7.11 percent of the funds budgeted for the purchase of security equipment, raising serious concerns about the country’s preparedness to confront rising threats.
The figures, which have triggered public concern, reveal that out of the N20.56 billion allocated for the Nigerian Army’s security equipment procurement in the 2025 budget, only N1.46 billion was actually released as of December 31, 2025. This development has intensified debates over the government’s commitment to national security at a time when insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP are becoming increasingly emboldened.
The data, published through the Open Treasury Portal managed by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, also showed that the 2026 monthly budget performance figures are yet to be uploaded, leaving many observers uncertain about whether the same funding challenges persist. This comes shortly after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the N68.32 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill into law and extended the implementation of the 2025 budget to June 31, 2026, a move that many analysts say reflects the administration’s struggle to meet financial obligations amid rising debt pressures.
Nigeria’s debt profile reached a staggering N159.28 trillion by December 2025, with an additional $6 billion foreign loan recently approved by the Senate, further raising questions about fiscal sustainability and spending priorities. For many security experts, the contrast between the worsening insecurity and the poor military budget implementation paints a troubling picture.
The Army’s total proposed expenditure for 2025 stood at N4.52 trillion, but only N1.17 trillion, representing 25.94 percent, was released by year-end. More alarming was the allocation for defence equipment itself. Of the N336.76 billion budgeted for the purchase of defence equipment, only N16.71 billion was disbursed, representing just 4.96 percent.
Critical infrastructure and operational needs also suffered similar neglect. Only N5.76 billion out of N57.59 billion budgeted for construction and provision of defence equipment was released, while repairs of defence equipment received just N3.89 billion out of N22.60 billion. This amounted to implementation rates of 10 percent and 9.07 percent respectively.
Training, which remains essential for modern warfare and counterterrorism operations, also recorded poor funding. Local training received only N2 billion out of N18.56 billion, while international training got N2 billion from a budget of N29.80 billion. Fuel costs for operational mobility were also poorly funded, with only N1.17 billion released for motor vehicle fuel against a budget of N15.71 billion.
Shockingly, no funds were released at all for aircraft fuel costs budgeted at N12.81 billion, transport equipment fuel cost estimated at N21.02 billion, military barracks construction worth N206.97 billion, recruitment and promotion processes, and even research and development. DDM News gathered that this funding gap has left many frontline troops operating under extremely dangerous conditions with outdated equipment and inadequate protection.
The Nigerian Air Force also faced a similar financial crisis. Records show that only N4.85 billion, representing 13.98 percent of the N34.71 billion allocated for aircraft maintenance, was released by December 2025. Aircraft maintenance is one of the most critical components of air force operations, especially in counterinsurgency warfare where air surveillance and rapid response determine battlefield outcomes.
This low allocation stands in sharp contrast to the funding for the Presidential Air Fleet, which received N20.27 billion out of N20.74 billion budgeted, representing 97.76 percent implementation. This disparity has sparked criticism from observers who argue that national security operations should receive greater urgency than executive luxury transportation.
For the Air Force, the purchase of security equipment received N5.25 billion out of N15.75 billion budgeted, while defence equipment procurement saw only N19.25 billion released from a budget of N298.44 billion, representing just 6.45 percent. No funds were released for welfare packages, military barracks repairs, transport equipment fuel costs, and several infrastructure projects.
Security analysts say these figures directly explain the military’s operational setbacks and the resurgence of attacks across northern Nigeria. According to Beacon Security Intelligence Limited, over 10,000 Nigerians were killed between January and December 2025, with the northern region accounting for the overwhelming majority of casualties.
The security consulting firm reported that by the end of October 2025 alone, 9,514 people had been killed nationwide. November recorded at least 404 deaths and 363 abductions, while December witnessed 323 casualties in the North West and 241 in the North Central. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, over 2,350 Nigerians were reportedly killed and 1,117 abducted.
Military casualties have also been significant. In Borno, Kaduna, Katsina, and Benue states, deadly attacks during the Easter period claimed at least 16 lives, including security personnel. Senior officers including brigade commanders and battalion commanders have also lost their lives in coordinated insurgent attacks.
Security expert Dr. Kabiru Adamu described the consequences of the underfunding as severe and directly linked to the resurgence of non-state armed groups. He warned that insurgents have been able to regroup and launch more sophisticated attacks because the military lacks adequate funding and procurement efficiency.
He further stressed that beyond simply releasing funds, Nigeria must sanitize its military procurement process to prevent corruption and political interference. According to him, frontline soldiers should not be moving around in ordinary soft-skin vehicles when armoured vehicles and Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles are the global standard for war zones.
He also raised alarm over the use of vulnerable GSM communication systems by security forces and warned that terrorists are already deploying drones in attacks. According to him, Nigeria must urgently invest in modern drone warfare systems and anticipate future threats instead of reacting late.
Former DSS Director Mike Ejiofor also expressed concern, stating that without proper release of budgeted funds, military performance cannot improve. He warned that non-state actors are increasingly gaining advantage in arms and operational capacity while the nation’s security agencies struggle with basic logistics.
Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, echoed similar concerns, lamenting that Nigerian troops lack sufficient ammunition, MRAPs, gun trucks, and attack helicopters to confront Boko Haram effectively. He stated that soldiers remain brave and determined, but poor equipment is demoralizing them and making tactical withdrawals inevitable.
He insisted that with adequate weapons, training, and welfare support, insurgency could be defeated much faster. According to him, the Nigerian Army has enough manpower, but lacks the tools needed to dominate the battlefield.
As insecurity deepens and public frustration grows, DDM News reports that the conversation is no longer just about budget figures but about national survival. With lives being lost daily and military officers paying the ultimate price, many Nigerians are demanding urgent action, accountability, and a serious reprioritization of government spending to place national security where it belongs—at the very top of the agenda.
