Nigeria’s Insecurity Soars As Buhari Allocates 14 Trillion Naira To Security In 8 Years

Nigeria Still Battling Extreme Insecurity As Buhari Spends 14 Trillion Naira On Security In 8 Years

Analysis Reveals Enormous Budget Allocations to Nigerian Security Agencies Amidst Rising Insecurity

Nigeria’s Ongoing Struggle with Mounting Insecurity Amidst Significant Investments: President Buhari Allocates 14 Trillion Naira to Security Efforts Over 8-Year Period

In a comprehensive analysis conducted by Sunday PUNCH, it has been revealed that the Federal Government of Nigeria has allocated a staggering sum of N14,063,279,559,996 to various security agencies and their coordinating ministries from 2015 to 2023. These allocations were detailed in the Appropriation Bills spanning over eight years, which were made available on the official website of the Budget Office of the Federation.

A meticulous breakdown of the figures shows that in 2015, the Ministry of Police Affairs received an allocation of N4,956,267,942, the Ministry of Interior was allocated N156,220,022,460, the Ministry of Defence received N375,497,219,431, the Police Service Commission was granted N990,477,185, the police formations and commands were allocated N321,622,224,611, and the Office of the National Security Adviser received N88,726,771,998.

Moving forward to 2016, the Police Service Commission was allocated a total of N980,705,292, while the Ministry of Defence received N443,077,795,159, the Ministry of Interior was granted N513,655,831,565, and the National Security Adviser received N21,007,059,483.

Similarly, in 2017, the Ministry of Defence received a budgetary allocation of N465,488,229,573, the Ministry of Interior was allocated N545,630,780,046, the National Security Adviser received N110,490,229,417, and the Police Service Commission was granted N1,967,172,630.

The year 2018 saw the Police Service Commission receiving a budget of N1,472,026,629, while the Ministry of Defence was allocated N567,433,895,517, the Ministry of Interior received N574,134,520,760, and the National Security Adviser was granted N121,730,943,684.

In the 2019 Appropriation Act, the Office of the National Security Adviser received N120,712,711,220, the Ministry of Defence was allocated N589,955,110,099, the Ministry of Interior received N617,901,064,592, and the Police Service Commission was granted N1,751,274,031.

The budgetary allocations for 2020 consisted of N1,369,586,675 for the Police Service Commission, N144,326,228,206 for the National Security Adviser, N410,532,262,631 for the Ministry of Police Affairs, N253,493,565,095 for the Ministry of Interior, and N900,770,634,390 for the Ministry of Defence.

In 2021, the Ministry of Defence received a budgetary allocation of N966,410,067,089, the Ministry of Police Affairs was granted N455,134,536,905, the National Security Adviser received N179,742,734,268, the Ministry of Interior was allocated N271,666,471,225, and the Police Service Commission was granted N1,647,175,806.

For the year 2022, the Ministry of Defence was allocated N1,200,712,724,376, the Ministry of Police Affairs received N559,106,745,837, the Ministry of Interior was granted N294,575,137,624, the Police Service Commission received N1,158,657,748, and the National Security Adviser was allocated N214,708,002,009.

Looking ahead to 2023, the budgetary allocations for the various security agencies and coordinating ministries include N813,912,057,660 for the Ministry of Police Affairs, N1,248,170,610,116 for the Ministry of Defence, N304,395,280,926 for the Ministry of Interior, N195,018,151,836 for the National Security Adviser, and N1,026,626,250 for the Police Service Commission.

Despite the substantial budgetary allocations dedicated to security agencies, the country’s level of insecurity has continued to worsen. Numerous states have become synonymous with violence and bloodshed, with rampant incidents of kidnappings for ransom tarnishing the nation’s reputation.

In Zamfara State, for instance, bandits recently kidnapped over 80 individuals. In Taraba State, gunmen attacked Garin Baka village, resulting in the loss of 15 lives. In Niger State, bandits kidnapped two policemen and 32 other individuals. The plight of internally displaced persons in Benue State was further exacerbated when bandits attacked their camp, claiming the lives of over 40 innocent individuals. Similarly, in Umogidi village of Enetekpa Adoka district, no fewer than 50 people were mercilessly killed. Another tragic incident occurred in Kaduna, where 33 innocent lives were lost. The most recent episode unfolded in Plateau State, with the recovery of over 125 dead bodies that were subsequently given a mass burial.

In response to these distressing events, the Defence Headquarters highlighted the vastness of some areas in the northern regions of the country and the lack of timely information from citizens as key challenges in preventing such attacks. The military high command stressed that cooperation from residents is crucial in denying terrorists a safe haven. Major General Musa Danmadami, the Director of Defence Media Operations, emphasized the need for timely information and expressed that once the civil populace cooperates and provides vital intelligence, the military can effectively root out terrorists and restore security.

As Nigeria grapples with the persistent security challenges plaguing the nation, it is imperative for the government to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the allocated funds and ensure that they are utilized to enhance the capabilities of security agencies in combating insecurity. Collaborative efforts between the government, security agencies, and the public are essential to achieving lasting peace and stability in the country.