The Senate has called for the complete and timely implementation of Nigeria’s defence budget, warning that any delays could weaken national security efforts and give an advantage to criminal elements and insurgents.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Ahmed Lawan, made the demand during a budget defence session on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, where Minister of Defence General Christopher Musa presented the ministry’s 2025 performance report and the 2026 budget proposal.
Sen. Lawan assured the armed forces of the Senate’s commitment to providing necessary resources but expressed serious concern over the slow execution of the 2025 defence budget.
“The exercise of implementation has been slow. How are we prepared to move forward if we are unable to implement the 2025 budget fully? How do we deal with 2026?” he asked.
He stressed that defence spending cannot be deferred, as delays directly benefit adversaries.
“It is defence; you cannot postpone the implementation of the defence budget because that gives an edge to the enemy. We have to insist that our armed forces and other security agencies have their budgets implemented to secure the lives of Nigerians,” Lawan said.
“They need the tools and weapons to fight. If we can provide those, we are committed to giving them the means to effectively combat insecurity,” he added.
The chairman described the session as a key accountability mechanism, noting that lawmakers were closely reviewing the ministry’s 2025 budget performance. Portions of the 2025 allocation that remained unspent have been rolled over into 2026, prompting the committee to demand better execution and greater transparency moving forward.
“We need to review what has happened,” Lawan said.
In his presentation, Minister of Defence General Christopher Musa acknowledged that security challenges persist nationwide but expressed optimism about improved performance in the coming year.
“Challenges are still there, but we are hoping to do better,” he told the committee.
The minister credited the National Assembly’s support for the progress achieved so far, stating that the ministry’s accomplishments would not have been possible without the cooperation and backing of lawmakers.
The session forms part of ongoing scrutiny of the 2026 federal budget proposal presented by President Bola Tinubu, which allocates ₦5.41 trillion to the defence sector out of a total ₦58.18 trillion budget.
The Senate Committee on Defence emphasised that prompt and full implementation of defence funds is critical to equipping troops, enhancing operational capabilities, and sustaining the fight against insurgency, banditry, and other threats across the country.
