N’Assembly Approves N1.50tn Army Budget for 2026

The National Assembly on Monday approved a N1.50 trillion budget for the Nigerian Army for the 2026 fiscal year, pledging legislative support to ensure timely release of funds for its implementation.

The approval followed a joint budget defence session in Abuja by the Senate and House Committees on Army, where Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, presented details of the proposed expenditure.

Speaking after the session, Senate Committee Chairman Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua said lawmakers were satisfied with the presentation and vowed to push for prompt disbursement of funds to enable the Army to meet its operational obligations.

House Committee Chairman Aminu Balele also praised the Chief of Army Staff and his officers for their dedication, commending their role in safeguarding the country. Both lawmakers stressed that delays in fund release could disrupt procurement, operational planning, and troop morale.

The allocation comes amid growing calls for enhanced funding of Nigeria’s security sector, as the country continues to face insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes. For over a decade, the Army has been at the forefront of counter-insurgency operations in the North-East and is also deployed across other regions to combat armed groups and maintain internal security.

Security experts have repeatedly emphasized that modern warfare demands sustained investment in equipment, intelligence, troop welfare, logistics, and training, with timely budgetary support critical to effective operations.