Retired Air Force Captain Urges Nigeria to Overhaul Defence Spending

Retired Group Captain Sadeeq Shehu has called for a significant overhaul of Nigeria's defence budget, citing concerns that the current allocation of funds is not effectively supporting the military. According to Shehu, the concentration of funding on personnel costs leaves insufficient provision for training, equipment maintenance, and military modernisation. This comes as Nigeria's defence spending has been under scrutiny, with reports indicating that ₦5.15 trillion was spent on special security interventions between November 2023 and September 2026.

Shehu's criticism focuses on the composition of the ₦3.154 trillion defence provision for 2026, where personnel costs account for 75.9 per cent, or approximately ₦2.4 trillion. Overheads receive about ₦297 billion, representing 9.4 per cent, while capital expenditure accounts for approximately ₦464 billion, or 14.7 per cent. Shehu argues that this allocation constrains the military's ability to meet requirements beyond payroll, and proposes more detailed expenditure categories to make those choices clearer.

The retired Air Force spokesperson suggests categorising expenditure into personnel and welfare, operations and deployment, equipment maintenance, training and exercises, procurement and modernisation, infrastructure, and research and development. He provides indicative shares for each category, including a personnel and welfare ceiling of about 30 per cent, 15 per cent for operations and deployment, and another 15 per cent for equipment maintenance. Shehu's proposals aim to distribute resources more deliberately across military needs.

Shehu's comments follow reports of substantial annual allocations for defence and other security institutions. President Bola Tinubu proposed ₦5.41 trillion for the broader defence and security sector in his 2026 budget speech. The President's priorities include modernising the armed forces, strengthening intelligence-led policing and joint operations, improving border surveillance, and supporting community-based conflict prevention. Shehu argues that achieving these goals requires a more effective allocation and management of available funds.

The issue of defence spending is complex, with factors such as budget rollovers and overlapping implementation cycles contributing to difficulties in releasing approved funds. Presidential economic adviser Tope Fasua attributed some capital-release difficulties to these issues, stating that the government is working towards a more orderly budget structure. Shehu also criticised what he considers inadequate scrutiny of defence budgeting by both the presidency and the National Assembly.

Shehu distinguishes between legislative approval and the actual availability of funds, noting that "budgeting is different from releasing in Nigeria". He argues that evaluations of the armed forces should account for actual disbursements, rather than just approved allocations. This is particularly relevant given reports that the Nigerian Army received only ₦1.46 billion from a ₦20.56 billion provision for security equipment in its 2025 budget by 31 December that year.

The discussion on defence spending highlights the need for more effective management and allocation of resources. Shehu's proposals and criticisms underscore the importance of ensuring that available funds are utilised efficiently to support the military's operational requirements. The issue remains a pressing concern, with the government facing calls to review its defence budget and ensure that resources are allocated effectively to support national security.

Key points

• Shehu proposes more detailed expenditure categories for defence spending.
• The retired Air Force spokesperson criticises the concentration of funding on personnel costs.
• Nigeria's defence spending has been under scrutiny, with reports indicating significant allocations and releases.