By Isiaka Mustapha, Editor-in-Chief, People’s Security Monitor

The Federal Government has disbursed ₦5.15 trillion in special intervention funds to the Nigerian military and other security agencies between November 2023 and September 2026, as the country continues to battle terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes.

The massive expenditure, which is separate from regular annual budgetary allocations to the Ministry of Defence and other security institutions, underscores the government’s increased financial commitment to tackling insecurity. However, the continued attacks on communities, mass abductions and killings across several states have renewed questions about the effectiveness, accountability and operational impact of security spending.

An analysis of Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) records showed that the government received ₦5.65 trillion into a dedicated special intervention account during the period, out of which ₦5.15 trillion, representing 91.15 per cent, had been disbursed. The funds came from the Federation Account, non-oil revenue and transfers from the FAAC Withheld Account.

The intervention programme began with allocations of ₦100 billion, with the government maintaining the funding pattern through 2024 and much of 2025. Between November 2023 and September 2025, cumulative disbursements reached ₦2.4 trillion. However, funding increased significantly in 2026, with individual transfers rising to between ₦200 billion and ₦500 billion.

The records indicated that ₦3.25 trillion was received into the intervention account in 2026 as of October 14, while ₦2.75 trillion was disbursed. This represented 53.40 per cent of the total ₦5.15 trillion released since the programme began. The outstanding balance stood at ₦500 billion, representing 8.85 per cent of total receipts.

Despite the increased funding, the military continues to confront Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province in the North-East, while banditry, kidnapping and attacks on rural communities remain major challenges in the North-West and North-Central regions. The FAAC records, however, did not provide detailed information on the specific operations, equipment purchases, personnel expenses or security projects financed with the funds, highlighting the need for greater transparency.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has commenced a review of the 2019 National Security Strategy to develop a new framework for addressing emerging threats, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, cybercrime, misinformation, food insecurity and climate change. The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, disclosed this during the inauguration of a committee to produce the National Security Strategy 2026. Represented by Major General Sarkin Bello (retd.), Ribadu said the country’s security environment had changed considerably since the last review.

The committee’s Deputy Chairman, Major General Evi Onumajuru (retd.), stressed the need to integrate traditional military responses with strategies addressing economic vulnerabilities, cyber threats, food insecurity and climate change. Ultimately, Nigerians expect the increased security expenditure and the proposed strategic review to translate into improved intelligence gathering, better equipment, effective military operations, safer communities and measurable reductions in criminal activities. The success of the government’s intervention must be judged not merely by the trillions of naira released but by the number of lives protected and communities restored to peace.