Since President Muhammadu Buhari took office on May 29, 2015, the Nigerian government has allocated over N6 trillion for defence, according to data from the nation’s budget office. In contrast, more Nigerians continue to lose their lives daily despite the humongous amount budgeted to secure them.
At least 43 people including 37 security personnel were killed last week after an attack was launched on security forces in Ajata-Aboki community in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State by terrorists. The Shiroro attack was launched despite repeated assurances that the Nigerian government had tackled security and was on top of its game
In the 2016 Appropriation Act, a total of N443bn was allocated to the defence ministry, consisting of N312.2bn for recurrent expenditure and N130.8bn for capital expenditure. In 2017, N483bn was budgeted for the ministry, including N330.4bn for recurrent expenditure and N138.6bn for capital expenditure. In 2018, N576.3bn was allocated to the ministry, comprising N418.6bn for recurrent expenditure and N157.7bn for capital expenditure. In 2020, N899.9bn was budgeted for the ministry, comprising N784bn for recurrent expenditure and N115.8bn for capital expenditure.
By 2021, N966.4bn was allocated to the ministry, including N838.5bn for recurrent expenditure and N127.8bn for capital expenditure. In the 2021 Supplementary Appropriation Act, over N700 billion was allocated to the ministry with allocations to Defence Headquarters (N35.8bn), Nigerian Army (N106.4bn), Nigerian Navy (N90.9bn), Nigerian Air Force (N426.6bn), and Defence Space Administration (N54.6bn).
In 2022, over N1 trillion was allocated for defense operations, procurement and upgrade of capabilities, and infrastructure.
On the flipside, as of the second quarter of 2021, more than 11,400 civilians and security personnel lost their lives to insecurity. Details of data sourced from Nigeria Security Tracker, a project of the Council on Foreign Relations, an American think tank, showed that the losses were recorded in attacks by Boko Haram insurgents, herdsmen and bandits.
Empty Threats?
In his reaction to the sad incident penultimate Friday, Buhari said the attack on security forces in Ajata-Aboki community in Shiroro Local Government Area was a direct assault on the Nigerian state which will not go unpunished.
He said: “And to the sadists, I say this: we are coming. No matter what rock you crawl under, what hole you sink into, what lie you hide behind, we are coming and we will find you. Shiroro will see justice. Nigeria will know peace.”
For many, the president’s threats and “tough talks” are becoming bland especially in the face of worsening insecurity.
Earlier in January, President Muhammadu Buhari had boasted that his administration had tackled to a great extent the security challenge in the country. Speaking in a Channels Television interview, he said Nigerians were better secured than he met them.
But in the same month, at least one thousand, four hundred and eight-six (1486) Nigerians were victims of the insecurity situation in the country. Within that month, killings accounted for 62% as 915 people lost their lives while the remaining 571 (38%) were victims of kidnapping.
From the North-Central region through to the North West and other parts of the country, several Nigerians had their lives cut short by terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and unknown gunmen. This past month, at least 40 people were killed in a shooting at a church in Owo where gunmen stormed a church on Sunday morning, opened fire on the congregation, and detonated explosives as the worshippers scampered for safety.