The Federal Government spent a total of N74.96bn on arms, ammunition, and military equipment between 2023 and 2025, according to data from a civic tech platform tracking public expenditure.
The figures show that defence-related spending rose significantly in 2024 before dropping sharply in 2025 based on recorded transactions. In 2023, security procurement stood at N33.30bn, rising to N40.84bn in 2024—an increase of about 22.6 percent. However, only N819.46m was captured in 2025 entries.
Further breakdown indicates that the Ministry of Defence accounted for the largest share of the expenditure, with multiple large-scale procurement transactions recorded across the period. In 2023, the ministry and military institutions made several major purchases, including billions spent on ammunition, arms, and surveillance equipment by the Nigerian Army and Navy.
Other security agencies such as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Correctional Service, Defence Headquarters, and the National Park Service also recorded smaller but notable spending on weapons and operational equipment.
The most significant spike occurred in 2024, when a single-day procurement exercise by the Ministry of Defence in July alone amounted to over N33bn, representing the bulk of that year’s spending. Additional purchases throughout the year included armoured vehicles, ammunition, and operational gear by various security agencies, including the NDLEA and Immigration Service.
In contrast, 2025 data captured so far shows only limited procurement activity, largely from the NDLEA, with total spending under N1bn.
Overall, the data suggests that while multiple agencies were involved in arms procurement over the three-year period, the Ministry of Defence remained the primary driver of expenditure. Analysts, however, note that the figures only reflect transactions specifically classified under arms and equipment, meaning actual security spending may be higher.
