…military budget has increased 190 times since 1960
…Fighting crime requires data and technology, experts tell security chiefs
Although Nigeria’s security budget has increased significantly over the past 64 years, the people still cannot sleep with their eyes closed.
The military budget alone soared by more than 1,900 percent between 1960 and 2021, while terrorism and threats to Nigeria’s sovereignty escalated during this period.
Nigeria’s military spending rose from $23.4 million in 1960 to $4.47 billion in 2021, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), a conflict research institute.
In naira terms, the security budget has increased from 618.26 billion naira in 2010 to 3.24 trillion naira in 2024, Business Day calculated based on data provided by the Federal Budget Office. This represents an increase of 424% over 14 years.
For this calculation, the budgets of the Department of Police, Department of the Interior, Department of Defense, Police Commission, and National Security Advisor were compiled.
Also read: Deteriorating security: FG, military struggle as criminal enterprises proliferate
spreading anxiety
The deteriorating security situation across Nigeria is alarming. Despite years of significant budget allocations and military procurement, a dramatic increase in violent crime, characterized by terrorism, banditry, nomadic attacks, and rampant kidnappings, raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the country’s defense strategy. continues to cause.
There is further concern that criminals are boldly using sophisticated tools such as mobile phones and bank accounts to facilitate their criminal activities without fear of arrest.
Nearly 25,000 Nigerians reportedly lost their lives to violence between 2019 and 2023, in areas previously considered safe, such as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Lagos. Kidnappings are becoming more and more prevalent.
According to data from Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited (BSIL), about 5,801 Nigerians were killed by terrorists across the country and 4,348 kidnappings occurred across the country in the first seven months of 2024.
BSIL pointed out that in August 2024 alone, there was a sharp increase in security incidents with a total of 952 incidents recorded and 907 deaths.
“We are in a fragile state and all Nigerians should be concerned. The fragility of the Nigerian state is increasing. There are indicators to measure that fragility and if we continue, we will become a failed state. That is a concern for me,” BSIL CEO Kabir Adam told BusinessDay in an exclusive interview.
series of attacks
In the southeast, separatist agitation and unidentified armed groups are gaining traction. Oil theft incidents are occurring frequently in the south-southern region, and kidnapping incidents are also on the rise. Kidnappings are commonplace in the southwest, as in most parts of the country. Banditry, rebellion, and kidnapping are commonplace in the three northern regions.
For example, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), bandits attacked travelers and abducted over 30 people on the notorious Abuja-Kaduna expressway in August 2024, sparking a new wave of violence that has continued for several months. Residents and authorities are on high alert after a road crash occurred.
The kidnapping of an entire family in the Bwari area of the FCT earlier this year, the payment of N100 million in ransom and the murder of the family is one of many incidents reported in the Nigerian capital.
Within a week, students, teachers and a school bus driver were kidnapped in Ekiti state, and a king was killed and his wife kidnapped in Kwara state, according to PLAC.
In January 2024, there were also reports of attacks in Mangu, Plateau State, with about 195 people killed and over 10,000 displaced following attacks in several communities in Bockos, Barkin Ladi and Mangu. Just one month after it was reported that 25 people had died. Local governments in the state on Christmas Eve.
Another attack on a community in Benue State in January 2024 left 30 people dead.
On the same day, armed groups attacked Yandaka village in Katsina state, killing three people and abducting 32 others.
On August 15, 2024, 20 medical students traveling to Enugu for a conference were kidnapped by bandits but released a few days later.
Recently, the trainee doctors went on strike solely to demand the rescue of their colleague Ganiyat Popoola, who was kidnapped since December 27, 2023 and is still being held by her captors.
Innocent Abba, chairman of the Abuja University Teaching Hospital Residents Association, said that apart from Popoola, 31 of his members were still held by the kidnappers.
Just last Saturday night, bandits invaded Kidandan village in Kaduna State and abducted National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Chairman Tasiu Habib and three children of local health workers.
Habib had previously been abducted by a similar group of robbers, held for 60 days, and released after paying a ransom.
Banks collect ransom money via PoS
The previous day, Fulani herdsmen invaded Mukpehi, a village in Owerri, and abducted several farmers. Those released so far say the ransom money was collected through PoS and transfers to bank accounts.
The kidnapped victim’s family said the victim paid the ransom through his bank account.
Also read: A scene of fear: How insecurity deprives Nigerians of their daily bread
Impact of security insecurity on farmers and communities
The Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), prepared by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), was published in Adamawa State from August 19 to 25, reflecting humanitarian assistance. Reported 1,252 new arrivals in internally displaced persons camps in Borno State. The impact of these security challenges in the Northeast.
According to Nigeria’s security tracking website, more than 350 farmers were kidnapped or killed in the 12 months to June 2022 alone, the BBC reported.
According to the report, from 2017 to May 2020, herdsmen carried out 654 attacks in Nigeria, killing 2,539 people and kidnapping 253 people (mainly farmers).
The 2022 Global Food Crisis Report said banditry and kidnapping continue to hamper food production in the northern states of Sokoto, Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, Benue, Plateau and Niger states.
Farmers paid ransoms to terrorists, and some of them were fired by the rebels.
Abiodun Ololdero, Managing Partner of Prasino Farms, said insecurity has reduced farm output in Nigeria.
lack of accountability
BSIL CEO Kabiru Adamu, quoted earlier, is concerned about the lack of accountability in Nigeria’s security sector, with little or no oversight of how funds are being utilized. There are no clear performance evaluation criteria in place to assess whether security agencies are achieving results.
“There are no measures in place to recognize when a security organization is performing well, and there is no system in place to penalize security organizations when they are underperforming,” Adam said. I did.
He pointed to purchases of military equipment such as Super Tucano jets that were touted to help in the fight against banditry, but did not yield the expected results.
“The banditry continues and I have not heard any minister asked why these jets were not used effectively to end the crisis.”
Emmanuel Onwubiko, the National Coordinator of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), supports the argument that growing insecurity in Nigeria is not necessarily due to lack of funding, but rather deeper institutional challenges. There is.
He noted that in 2019, NOK 75 billion was allocated to “Operation Lafiya Dole” (now Operation Hadin Kai) to fight the insurgency in the Northeast, and NOK 159.1 billion was allocated to capital projects. listed.
“The challenges facing Nigeria’s security architecture are not financial, but institutional,” Onwubiko asserted.
Naira erodes security budget
Since the 2024 Naira fluctuation, the security budget has been stagnant in dollar terms. The total security budget for 2024 is estimated at 3.24 trillion naira, with one dollar trading at more than 1,500 naira on the official market. The total security budget for 2010 was $618.26 billion, with a total budget of $5.056 billion.
Military equipment is primarily sourced from outside Nigeria in dollars. Due to the weak Naira, less equipment will be procured even if the Naira budget increases.
What can Nigeria do?
Former House of Representatives member Roland Igbakpa said the growing number of unemployed and desperate youths is making it easier for criminal gangs to recruit them into illegal activities.
Mr. Igbakupa also emphasized the need for border closures, pointing to Nigeria’s porous borders where people, including criminals, are smuggled into the country without inspection.
Adamu, quoted earlier, called for tying security budgets to performance metrics, noting that without proper evaluation and consequences for non-performance, the cycle of inefficiency and irresponsibility will continue unchecked.
Meanwhile, BudgeIT Nigeria, while gathering information, proposed improving border security, curbing the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, strengthening surveillance and establishing state/regional police forces. The report said tackling lawlessness caused by illegal mining and improving the welfare of security personnel would help strengthen security in Nigeria.
Mr. Ibim Koloye, an IT expert, said it was time for Nigeria to start using NIN and technology to track criminals, explaining why criminals are not being traced and are making phone calls to contact victims’ families. He said he doubted whether he would use it.
“The recruitment process for security agencies should be reviewed. New criteria are needed, including background analysis,” he said.
“We need to deploy technology and data to fight crime. This is happening elsewhere.”
