The Federal Government has disbursed N5.15tn in special intervention funds to the Nigerian military and related security agencies between November 2023 and September 2026, as the country continues to battle terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other security threats.
An analysis of documents from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), obtained by The PUNCH, showed that the government received N5.65tn into a dedicated special intervention account during the period, with N5.15tn, representing 91.15 per cent, already disbursed. The intervention funds were sourced from the Federation Account and other government revenue streams, including non-oil revenue and transfers from the FAAC Withholding Account.
According to a ledger prepared by the Federation Account Department of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the disbursements were made through 30 transactions between November 8, 2023, and September 23, 2026. The funds were separate from the regular annual budgetary allocations to the Ministry of Defence and other security institutions.
However, the records did not specify how the money was spent on military operations, equipment procurement, personnel costs or other security-related projects. A breakdown of the transactions showed that the intervention programme began with a N100bn allocation in October 2023, followed by its disbursement to the military on November 8 of the same year. Throughout 2024, the government maintained a monthly funding pattern of N100bn, bringing total receipts and disbursements for the year to N1.2tn. The programme continued into 2025, with another N900bn received and disbursed within the first nine months of the year. This brought cumulative disbursements to N2.4tn by September 2025.
However, the funding pattern changed significantly in 2026, with individual transfers increasing from the previous N100bn monthly allocation to amounts ranging between N200bn and N500bn. The records showed that the government received N3.25tn into the intervention account in 2026 as of October 14, while N2.75tn had been disbursed. The amount disbursed in 2026 represented 53.40 per cent of the total N5.15tn released since the programme began.
The latest ledger also showed an outstanding balance of N500bn, representing funds received but not yet disbursed as of October 14, 2026.Despite the substantial financial commitment, Nigeria continues to face security challenges across several regions. In the North-East, military operations against Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province remain ongoing, while banditry and mass kidnappings continue to threaten communities in parts of the North-West and North-Central regions. The attacks have resulted in deaths, displacement and disruptions to farming and other economic activities.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has commenced a review of the 2019 National Security Strategy to develop a new framework that addresses emerging security threats. The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, disclosed this on Thursday during the inauguration of a committee responsible for reviewing the existing framework and developing the National Security Strategy 2026.Represented by Major General Sarkin Bello (retd.), Ribadu said Nigeria’s security environment had changed significantly since 2019, making a comprehensive review necessary. He identified terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, cybercrime, misinformation, economic challenges, food insecurity and environmental threats as some of the issues requiring attention. According to him, the proposed strategy would provide a framework for coordinating national security, resilience and sustainable development while addressing present realities and anticipating future threats.
Also speaking, the Deputy Chairman of the committee, Major General Evi Onumajuru (retd.), said the changing nature of security threats made strategic realignment necessary. He noted that traditional security challenges had become increasingly connected with non-kinetic threats, including cybercrime, economic vulnerabilities, food insecurity and climate change.
