The Nigerian Armed Forces’ 2026 budget of N3.154 trillion places a disproportionate emphasis on personnel costs, leaving a relatively small share for equipment, maintenance and other critical capital projects, according to retired Group Captain Sadeeq Shehu.
Shehu, a former spokesperson for the Nigerian Air Force, said personnel costs account for 75.9 per cent of the defence budget, amounting to approximately N2.4 trillion.
He explained that overhead costs received 9.4 per cent, representing about N274 billion, while capital expenditure, covering equipment, maintenance and procurement, accounted for just 14.7 per cent, or approximately N464 billion.
According to him, the imbalance raises concerns about the effectiveness of Nigeria’s defence spending, particularly the limited resources available for military equipment and operational capacity.
“Defence spending is not really about how much you spend, but how wisely you spend it,” Shehu said.
He added that the allocation leaves the bulk of the defence budget concentrated on personnel expenditure, with insufficient funding for other areas essential to strengthening the Armed Forces.
Shehu made the remarks during an interview on ARISE News.
He also clarified that the N3.154 trillion allocation does not include the special intervention fund.
