Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has raised alarm over the country’s dangerously underfunded security sector and porous borders, warning that without decisive action, the cycle of insecurity will continue unabated.
Speaking at the Constitution Review Legislative Dialogue in a video obtained by IntelRegion, the minister openly criticized the nation’s approach to internal security, particularly its budgetary priorities.
“Take a look at the 2025 budget — how much is allocated to border security?” he asked rhetorically. “The entire capital budget for the Nigerian Immigration Service is less than ₦10 billion, and we expect to effectively guard 4,024 square kilometers of border territory? Are we serious?”
He went further to stress the consequences of this underfunding:
“When you kill one terrorist and leave the border open, 20 more walk in. The military is overstretched. We need to be honest with ourselves.”
Tunji-Ojo also lamented what he described as a flawed mindset around internal security, pointing to the tendency to rely on the military as the first response instead of empowering dedicated internal agencies.
“We have some of the most brilliant operatives in the DSS, but whenever we think of internal security, the first institution that comes to mind is the military. That alone reflects the failure of our national security structure,” he said.
Turning to the Nigeria Police Force, the minister questioned the outdated reliance on government budget allocations to fund its operations.
“I don’t see why the police should depend solely on budgetary releases. We are the most populous Black nation on Earth — 240 million Nigerians — yet we expect an underfunded police force to handle our internal security challenges efficiently? It won’t work.”
His comments come as Nigeria continues to grapple with rising insecurity across multiple regions. In Benue State, suspected herdsmen launched a deadly attack in recent days, first targeting military and police outposts before unleashing violence on civilians.
Governor Hyacinth Alia, in an interview with Arise News, confirmed the incident, stating that the attackers came through a river route, heavily armed and in large numbers.
“The attack lasted for two hours. They first engaged the military and police stationed in the area. There was pushback, but the assailants later turned on civilians,” he said.
The attackers reportedly retreated toward Lafia in Nasarawa State, after clashing with security forces. Governor Alia, a Catholic priest, added: “This region shares a border with Nasarawa, so once they’re repelled in one area, they regroup and shift.”
The escalating wave of attacks and the Interior Minister’s frank admission have renewed calls for urgent reform, sustainable funding, and strategic overhaul of Nigeria’s internal security apparatus.
