The Senate Committee on Defence on Wednesday voiced concern over the slow implementation of the 2025 defence budget, warning that funding delays could weaken ongoing efforts to address insecurity nationwide.
Committee Chairman, Sen. Ahmed Lawan, made the remarks during a budget defence session at the National Assembly, where the Minister of Defence presented the ministry’s 2025 performance report and proposed 2026 budget. Lawan assured the ministry of the Senate’s backing to ensure the Armed Forces of Nigeria are adequately funded to carry out their constitutional duties. However, he raised concerns about the slow pace of implementation of the current budget. “We are prepared on this side of government to ensure that our armed forces are given the resources they need,” he said.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the level of budget implementation so far, the former Senate President asked, “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 stressed that defence spending is too critical to be delayed, noting that postponing implementation could embolden criminal groups and insurgents operating in different parts of the country. “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.
According to him, security agencies require the necessary tools and equipment to effectively combat threats.
“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 lawmaker described the session as part of the National Assembly’s oversight and accountability responsibility, noting that the committee was carefully reviewing the ministry’s 2025 budget performance. He pointed out that some components of the budget were not fully implemented and were rolled over into the 2026 proposal.
“We need to review what has happened,” he said, underscoring the committee’s resolve to ensure improved transparency and performance in defence spending.