₦38.2 TRILLION DEFENCE SPENDING IN 15 YEARS RAISES CONCERNS OVER NIGERIA’S SECURITY CHALLENGES

Nigeria has spent an estimated ₦38.2 trillion on defence and security over the past 15 years, a figure that has sparked renewed debate over the country’s ongoing security challenges.The amount represents the cumulative total of annual defence budgets between 2010 and 2025, covering military operations, personnel costs, logistics, and equipment.Despite the massive investment, Nigeria continues to face persistent threats, including insurgency in the North-East, widespread banditry and kidnappings in the North-West, farmer-herder clashes in the North-Central, and oil-related militancy in the Niger Delta.Analysts note that a large share of the defence budget is allocated to recurrent expenditure, particularly salaries and welfare for military personnel, while a smaller portion goes to capital projects such as weapons procurement and modern security infrastructure.Concerns have also been raised over transparency and accountability in the management of defence funds, with past corruption scandals further fueling public skepticism.The development has intensified calls for reforms aimed at improving efficiency, oversight, and strategic investment in Nigeria’s security architecture.Experts argue that without addressing systemic issues in funding and execution, increased spending alone may not translate into improved security outcomes.