Insecurity worsens despite N11trn allocation in 12 years

Despite increased allocation of funds to the security sector in the last 12 years amounting to N11 trillion, according to data from BudgIT, a civic tech organisation, insecurity has worsened in the country.

According to BudgIT, allocation to the security sector witnessed a steady increase from 2011 to 2022, but with very little visibility on the level of disbursement and utilisation of the appropriated funds. This includes allocations to defence, the police force, service wide votes, and ministry of interior.

The sector saw the highest allocation in 2022 with a total of N2.49 trillion, up from N1.86 trillion in 2021. In 2011, the sector received N920.87 billion. In the same vein, allocations to defence peaked in 2022 with a total budget of N1.19 trillion, while service wide votes got N220 billion, according to BudgIT

Allocations to the ministry of interior in 2022 stood at N287 billion, while allocations to the Police and the Office of the National Security Adviser stood at N783 billion and N212 billion, respectively.

The N2.49 trillion to security and defence is more than the entire allocations to education and health.