No fewer than ten state governors across Nigeria are projected to receive a combined ₦140 billion in security vote funding in 2026, reflecting the mounting financial burden of insecurity and the expanding role of subnational governments in frontline responses to violence, kidnappings, banditry, and terror attacks.
The projection is based on recent state budget implementation reports compiled by Headlinenews.news which show a steep upsurge in security vote releases over the past two years.
States Leading in Security Vote Allocations.
The states most consistently recording the highest security vote disbursements are:
Borno State – significant counter-insurgency pressures have made it the largest beneficiary, with billions released against rising budgets;
Plateau State – recurrent communal violence has driven high security spending;
Ondo State, Ebonyi State, Katsina State, Nasarawa State, Adamawa State,
Edo State, Bayelsa State, and Delta State – all accounting for large shares of combined allocations over the past two fiscal years.
These governors—Babagana Umara Zulum (Borno), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Dikko Radda (Katsina), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Monday Okpebholo (Edo), Douye Diri (Bayelsa) and Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta)—are expected to be among the top recipients of the 2026 security vote allocations.
Rising Trend and Budget Data.
Analysis of budget performance reports shows that in 2024 the ten states disbursed about ₦80 billion out of ₦110.8 billion budgeted for security votes.
Within the first nine months of 2025, they had released ₦87.87 billion, accounting for roughly 69 per cent of the ₦127.36 billion earmarked for the year. When annualised, this translates to an estimated ₦117.2 billion—a roughly 46 per cent increase over the 2024 outturn.
If the current trajectory continues, releases could reach around ₦140 billion in 2026.
Security votes are discretionary funds intended for urgent security needs, intelligence gathering, and rapid response operations.
Unlike routine budget lines, they are often released outside detailed appropriation scrutiny and are not subject to comprehensive public accounting—a feature that continues to draw criticism from transparency advocates.
The Debate on Effectiveness and Transparency.
The sharp rise in disbursements has reignited debate over the effectiveness, oversight, and transparency of security votes.
Critics argue that increases in allocations have not consistently translated into better security outcomes, as violence, kidnappings, and criminal attacks continue across many parts of the country. Advocates for reform emphasise the need for clearer disclosure of how funds are used, measurable performance indicators, and integration of spending into broader security strategies at both state and federal levels.
Some commentators argue that security votes should be linked to outcomes such as reduced incident rates and faster emergency responses, rather than simply increasing year on year.
Others warn that without improved accountability, public scepticism may deepen further even as governors wrestle with genuine security pressures.
What to Watch in 2026.
As states prepare to implement their 2026 budgets, analysts will be watching:
Whether the projected ₦140 billion in security votes is fully released;
How disbursements correlate with measurable improvements in public safety;
Reforms—if any—in transparency, reporting, and oversight of discretionary security funds.
In a climate where insecurity remains one of the most pressing concerns for citizens and policymakers alike, the scale and utilisation of security votes will continue to be central to debates on state capacity, accountability, and the future of Nigeria’s internal security architecture.
Headlinenews.news Special report
