Nigeria’s budget for security tilts heavily toward ground forces, with the Army taking the most significant share

The Nigerian Army is allocated ₦1.5 trillion, surpassing the ₦1 trillion mark and making it the highest-funded force in the proposal.
Police formations and commands receive ₦1.3 trillion, exceeding the ₦ 1 trillion threshold in the 2026 budget.
The Nigerian Navy’s proposed allocation stands at ₦443.9 billion, keeping it well below the trillion-naira range reached by the top two.
The Nigerian Air Force is allocated ₦407.2 billion.

Nigeria’s proposed 2026 security budget is heavily concentrated in land-based forces, with the Army (₦1.50 trillion) and Police (₦1.30 trillion) jointly absorbing over two-thirds of total allocations, signalling a clear priority on internal security and territorial control.

In contrast, the Navy (₦443.9 billion) and Air Force (₦407.2 billion) receive less than one-third of the combined total, highlighting a comparatively lower fiscal emphasis on maritime security and air power. The distribution underscores a defence posture focused more on domestic stabilisation than on force projection or advanced military capability.

Source:

Budget Office of the Federation, Nigeria

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Period:

2026

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