President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made security the single biggest priority in the proposed N58.18 trillion 2026 federal budget, earmarking N5.41 trillion for defence and internal security. The allocation is the largest for any sector and marks the third straight year that security has taken the top share of national spending under his administration.
Presenting the “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity” to a joint session of the National Assembly, Tinubu said security remains the foundation of economic growth, investment and social stability. He argued that without peace, efforts to expand jobs, infrastructure, education and health will not succeed.
Under the proposal, defence and security will receive N5.41 trillion, ahead of infrastructure (N3.56 trillion), education (N3.52 trillion) and health (N2.48 trillion). The funds are expected to modernise the armed forces, strengthen intelligence driven policing, tighten border security and expand technology based surveillance and joint operations.
Tinubu announced a comprehensive reset of Nigeria’s security architecture, including a new national counter terrorism doctrine built on unified command and better intelligence coordination. He declared that all armed groups operating outside state authority, including bandits, militias, kidnappers, armed gangs and violent cults, as well as their financiers and enablers, will now be treated as terrorists.
The President said the tougher classification is meant to close legal loopholes that have allowed violent groups to grow. He vowed that the government would show no mercy to terrorists and other violent criminals threatening Nigeria’s stability.
Tinubu told lawmakers that external reserves had risen to about 47 billion dollars by mid November 2025, enough to cover more than 10 months of imports. He presented this as evidence that recent reforms are stabilising the macroeconomic environment.
Beyond security, the 2026 budget also increases funding for infrastructure, education and health to support long term growth. Tinubu said the three areas are closely linked to security, because only a safe, educated and healthy population can drive productivity and investment.
He urged the National Assembly to pass the budget promptly, arguing that timely approval is key to sustaining reform momentum and restoring public confidence in government’s ability to protect lives and improve living conditions.
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