Nigerian states budgeted a combined ₦525.23 billion for security votes and related operations between 2023 and 2025, but the spending has failed to curb the worsening wave of killings, kidnappings and violent crimes nationwide.
An analysis of approved budgets from 32 states, sourced from the BudgIT-backed Open States portal, shows security vote allocations rose sharply year-on-year — from ₦150.47bn in 2023 to ₦164.07bn in 2024, before jumping to ₦210.68bn in 2025. Figures from Gombe, Kebbi, Niger and Yobe were not clearly disclosed, suggesting the actual total is higher.
Despite the surge in spending, insecurity persists, raising questions about the effectiveness and transparency of the funds. Although security is constitutionally a federal responsibility, many governors have expanded internal security spending amid escalating violence, with little to show in results.
Borno State topped the three-year chart with ₦57.4bn, reflecting sustained counter-insurgency efforts, followed by Anambra (₦42.57bn), Delta (₦38.44bn) and Benue (₦36.87bn). At the other end, Rivers (₦210m), Akwa Ibom (₦624m) and Ekiti (₦3.1m) disclosed far smaller figures, highlighting wide disparities in reporting and prioritisation.
Regionally, the North-East accounted for the largest disclosed share at ₦113.78bn, driven mainly by Borno, while the South-West recorded the lowest total at ₦63.16bn, despite a sharp spike in 2025 led by Oyo and Ondo.
Security votes are special, largely secretive allocations meant for urgent security operations. Critics argue they often lack accountability and may be diverted for political or personal use. Civil society groups and labour unions have questioned their impact, noting that insecurity continues to worsen despite the rising funds.
Organised Labour and analysts have urged states and local governments to translate security allocations into concrete action, including better intelligence gathering, community policing and rapid-response systems, warning that Nigerians “deserve results, not just rising budgets.
