President Bola Ahmed Tinubu met with the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, and other security chiefs amidst concerns over the worsening insecurity in the country. The meeting comes as critics question the effectiveness of the government’s security measures, despite the huge funds allocated to the sector in the 2025 Budget.

The Security and Defence sector received N4.91 trillion in the 2025 Budget, but the state of insecurity has worsened in recent months. Recent attacks by suspected Fulani gunmen in Plateau and Benue states have claimed close to 300 lives, with dozens of homes razed and hundreds displaced.

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has also raised concerns about the deadly Boko Haram terrorist group making gains in his state. Critics, including former Defence Minister Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, have expressed frustration over the government’s inability to protect Nigerians, with Danjuma urging citizens to take up arms to defend themselves.

Security expert Kabiru Adamu has also called on the administration to step up its efforts, saying the federal government should justify its decision to allot a large share of the nation’s budget to Defence. Adamu blamed state governments for the problem of insecurity, saying they have not shown the capacity to protect lives and property.

The Presidency has accused state governors of mismanaging Security Votes, with Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, saying governors have failed to use billions they receive monthly for security in their states effectively. Bwala said, “What we are finding, very sadly, is that there are some states where the governors give N20 million to the SSS, N20 million to the police, and N20 million to the Army as monthly allocation for fighting insecurity. And you hear their security vote is between N1 billion, N2 billion, and N3 billion. Where are we going?”

Bwala urged governors not to surrender to aggressors trying to destroy the security architecture of the country, adding that governors can deal with insecurity if they understand what it takes to do that.