Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Ahmed Lawan, has urged the Federal Government to ensure full and timely implementation of Nigeria’s defence budget, warning that delays could weaken the country’s security response.
Speaking during a budget defence session on Wednesday, where Defence Minister, General Christopher Musa (rtd.) presented the ministry’s 2025 performance and 2026 proposal, Lawan stressed that the armed forces must be adequately equipped. “We are prepared on this side of government to ensure that our armed forces are given the resources they need,” he said.
However, he expressed concern over the slow pace of the 2025 budget rollout. “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?” Lawan asked.
He emphasized that defence spending cannot be postponed, noting: “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.”
The senator added that the session was an accountability exercise, as lawmakers reviewed areas of the 2025 budget that were not fully executed and rolled over into 2026.
Defence Minister Musa acknowledged persistent security challenges but pledged improved performance. “Challenges are still there, but we are hoping to do better,” he said, crediting the committee’s support for progress made so far.
With ₦5.41 trillion allocated to defence in the 2026 budget, both the Senate and the ministry underscored the urgency of ensuring resources are delivered on time to strengthen Nigeria’s fight against insecurity.
