The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has described the ₦50 billion allocated to the Ministry of Defence in the 2025 budget as grossly inadequate to address Nigeria’s mounting security challenges.
Matawalle stated this on Tuesday while defending the ministry’s budget before the House of Representatives Committee on Defence.
According to the Minister, the ministry faces several financial constraints, including unpaid bills and entitlements for military personnel. He expressed concern over accumulated debts for group life insurance and the lack of funds for barracks maintenance.
“We have some challenges. One, we have inadequate budgetary provision. The headquarters and civilian personnel unit are unable to meet their obligations, resulting in the accumulation of debt on services and staff entitlements. We have non-payment and accumulated bills for group life insurance, which is very important,” Matawalle lamented.
“For us in the ministry, we have a lot of challenges. Look at the budget for 2025—just ₦50 billion. We have a shortfall of ₦18 billion from last year’s budget, and people expect the ministry to do wonders.”
He also decried the insufficient number of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to combat banditry effectively.
“Out of what we have in 2024, we were able to provide just 20 APCs. What can 20 APCs do? In Katsina alone, if we can have 50 APCs that can go into the bush to flush out those criminals, I assure you, within two months, we’ll resolve the issue of banditry,” he said.
Matawalle appealed to the committee to consider increasing the budget, noting that better funding would enable the ministry to meet its obligations and improve security across the country.
“I believe this House will consider more funding for the Ministry of Defence, so that even as ministers, we can provide some equipment to flush out these areas of attacks,” he said.
Philip Agbese, a member of the committee, supported the Minister’s call, praising the military for its efforts in combating insecurity, especially in the Northwest.
“The ministry is really doing well. I want to attest to that,” Agbese said. “I am moving the motion before this committee, Mr. Chairman, that we should grant explicit approval to the request he has made.”
Chairman of the committee, Rep Babajimi Benson, acknowledged the critical role of the defence sector in national security.
He assured that the National Assembly would prioritise increased funding to address the country’s dynamic security challenges, while emphasising the need for prudent use of allocated funds.
According to him, “As representatives of the people, it is our duty to ensure that every naira is judiciously spent to strengthen the operational capacity of the Armed Forces and deliver tangible results.”
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