The Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, stated that the allocated budget of N1.57 trillion naira to tackle insecurity in 2024 was insufficient. Badaru made this known while defending the ministry’s 2024 budget proposal before a joint National Assembly Committee on Defence on Wednesday.
The Minister explained that the cost of operations has increased, and there has been a rise in the price of diesel and fuel, which calls for an increment of the ministry’s allocation. In his words, “I appeal to the distinguished senators and honorable members to review the ministry’s budget given the prevailing economic situation to enable the ministry to function effectively.”
Badaru also noted that the overhead cost is low, and the ministry requires support from the National Assembly members to improve the overhead and ensure effective functioning. He added that the heads of military units consume large quantities of fuel and diesel while carrying out their official duties.
The Minister assured the lawmakers that all funds appropriated in the budget would be judiciously utilized. He explained that the supplementary budget aims to prevent bandits and insurgents from running into another sector instead of fighting in one sector.
In response, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, Ahmad Lawan, stated that there would be no justification for a huge budgetary allocation for the ministry if there was no improvement in security across the country. Lawan emphasized the need to establish how the money allocated to the ministry improved security. “If you are given N100 billion, how has it improved the security situation in the country? It will not augur well to appropriate money without justification,” he added.
According to Politics Nigeria, the Ministry of Defence allocated N1.15 trillion for personnel, N116.5 billion for overhead, and N308.2 billion for capital, totaling N1.57 trillion. However, the Defence Minister believes that the allocation is insufficient to fight insecurity in the country.