Nigeria imported arms and ammunition worth ₦55.06 billion in the first six months of 2026, representing a 104.31 per cent increase from the ₦26.95 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.
The latest figure is contained in the National Bureau of Statistics’ (NBS) Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics for the second quarter of 2026, released on 7 September. The NBS report covers trade data for the period under review.
The sharp rise in arms imports comes less than five months before the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections and amid continuing seizures of firearms by security agencies.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed 16 January 2027 for the presidential and National Assembly elections, while the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for 6 February 2027. The dates are contained in the Commission’s current election timetable.
The development also comes days after the Nigeria Customs Service disclosed the interception of about 603 firearms entering the country between January and August 2026.
The seized weapons were reportedly handed over to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons for further action.
The latest customs interceptions add to a long-running effort by security agencies to prevent the illegal movement of firearms and ammunition across Nigeria’s borders.
The Nigeria Customs Service has identified border protection and anti-smuggling operations as part of its mandate, while previous seizures of arms and ammunition have been transferred to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons.
The increase in arms imports has drawn attention to the security environment surrounding the 2027 elections, particularly the possibility that illegally acquired firearms could be diverted to criminal or political violence.
Recent observations by the CLEEN Foundation during the 2026 Osun State governorship election highlighted both adequate security deployment and gaps that could become significant in the more politically competitive 2027 polls.
The organisation deployed trained observers across the 30 local government areas of Osun State to assess the conduct of security personnel, particularly during the closing stages of voting.
According to the Foundation, a security presence was maintained until the close of the polls in the vast majority of monitored locations, and all reports rated the number of officers present as adequate or better.
However, officers were reported to have left their polling stations for some period in six per cent of the locations observed, while two per cent of polling stations were reportedly left completely unattended.
The Foundation stressed the importance of maintaining security presence after voting, when results are collated and ballot boxes are prepared for transportation.
It said, “opportunistic interference is most likely” during the final hours of voting and immediately afterward.
Firearms were visibly carried by security personnel in 37 per cent of the locations monitored. CLEEN said this was broadly consistent with standard deployment protocols and did not, by itself, indicate a security breach.
Security officials were also reported to have used force in two per cent of the monitored locations, while threat incidents were recorded in 12 per cent.
On the movement of electoral materials, the Foundation said security officials provided protection for ballot-box transportation in 86 per cent of the polling units monitored. In the remaining 14 per cent, observers could not independently confirm whether such protection was provided.
CLEEN’s election-day monitoring also recorded reports of violence in six locations, including alleged gunfire near a traditional ruler’s palace and disruption attributed to suspected thugs. The organisation, however, noted that most of the reports originated from unverified allegations by political parties rather than independently confirmed incidents.
Against the backdrop of the findings, the Foundation called on security agencies to maintain vigilance throughout the electoral process rather than reducing their presence after voting.
It urged security agencies to “sustain, rather than relax, officer presence and vigilance” through the collation and transmission of results.
CLEEN also called for legislation establishing a dedicated judicial process for the prosecution of electoral offences, arguing that weaknesses in enforcement could undermine deterrence against electoral malpractice.
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