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Tinubu presents 2026 budget, proposes N5.41tn allocation for security
2026 Budget: Tinubu Allocates ₦5.41 Trillion to Security, Tops All Sectors
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has earmarked a massive ₦5.41 trillion for defence and security in the proposed 2026 national budget, making it the single largest sectoral allocation in the spending plan.
This marks the third consecutive year that security has taken top priority since the administration began presenting national budgets in November 2023, underscoring the government’s focus on tackling Nigeria’s persistent security challenges.
Security as the Foundation of Development
Tinubu disclosed the figures on Friday while presenting the ₦58.18 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly.
Addressing lawmakers, the President stressed that national security remains the bedrock of economic growth, investment, and social stability, especially in the face of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes.
“Security remains the foundation of development,” Tinubu told lawmakers, adding that without peace and stability, other sectors of the economy would struggle to thrive.
Breakdown of the 2026 Security Allocation
According to the President, the ₦5.41 trillion security vote will be deployed across several critical areas, including:
- Modernisation of the Armed Forces
- Strengthening intelligence-driven policing
- Enhanced border surveillance
- Support for joint operations among security agencies
Tinubu emphasised accountability, noting that security spending must translate into tangible results for Nigerians.
“We will invest in security with clear accountability for outcomes because security spending must deliver security results,” he said.
New Counter-Terrorism Doctrine Announced
As part of the 2026 proposal, the President announced a major reset of Nigeria’s national security architecture.
This includes the introduction of a new national counter-terrorism doctrine anchored on unified command, improved intelligence coordination, and community stability.
Under the proposed framework, Tinubu declared that:
- Bandits
- Militias
- Kidnappers
- Armed gangs
- Violent cult groups
—along with their financiers, informants, and political or community enablers—will now be formally classified as terrorists.
According to the President, the tougher classification is aimed at closing long-standing legal and operational loopholes that have allowed violent groups to flourish.
Other Key Sectoral Allocations
Beyond security, the 2026 budget also proposes significant funding for other priority sectors:
- Infrastructure: ₦3.56 trillion
- Education: ₦3.52 trillion
- Health: ₦2.48 trillion
Despite pressure on public finances from debt servicing, wages, and security obligations, Tinubu insisted that prioritising security was unavoidable.
“Without security, investment will not thrive. Without educated and healthy citizens, productivity will not rise. Without infrastructure, jobs and enterprise will not scale,” he said.
Call for Legislative Support
The President urged lawmakers to support the proposal, describing the 2026 budget as a strategic effort to consolidate recent economic gains and restore public confidence in the government’s ability to protect lives and property.
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