Despite a record N3.15 trillion allocation to the Ministry of Defence in the 2026 budget, insecurity continues to worsen across Nigeria, prompting policy think-tank, Nextier, to raise concerns over the country’s military procurement system.

But the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) neutralised 485 terrorists, apprehended 370 suspects and rescued 595 kidnap victims in the last three months of operations in the North-East.

The organisation, in a report authored by Dr Chibuike Njoku, warned that weak oversight, excessive secrecy and entrenched corruption were preventing increased defence spending from translating into improved security outcomes.

Nextier, in the report also co-authored by Dr Ndu Nwokolo, points out that Nigeria remains in the throes of its most complex security crises, with insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, separatist violence and oil-related criminality persisting despite unprecedented government expenditure on defence.

According to the report, Nigeria recorded 1,274 violent incidents in 2025, resulting in 4,654 deaths and 3,141 hostages, based on data from the Nextier Nigeria Violent Conflicts Database. The figures, it said, highlight the widening gap between rising defence expenditure and actual security outcomes.

The report noted that the Federal Government allocated about N3.154 trillion to the Ministry of Defence in the 2026 Appropriation Bill, making defence one of the highest-funded sectors in the national budget.

However, the authors argued that increased funding had not translated into improved security because longstanding corruption, weak accountability mechanisms and institutional inefficiencies continue to undermine defence procurement.

It cited the $2.1 billion arms procurement scandal, popularly known as Dasukigate, as a prominent example of how funds intended to strengthen military operations against insurgency were allegedly diverted through politically connected networks.

The think-tank called for regular independent defence audits, stronger legislative oversight, sector-specific procurement guidelines and enhanced anti-corruption monitoring by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Other recommendations include strengthening asset recovery mechanisms, imposing stiffer sanctions on officials found guilty of procurement abuses and improving contract management systems within the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces.

THE Director, Defence Media Operations (DMO), Maj-Gen. Michael Onoja, while addressing the press on the operational activities of the Armed Forces for the second quarter, yesterday, in Abuja, said the troops sustained coordinated land and air offensives, intelligence-led operations and targeted raids that significantly degraded the operational capabilities of Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and other criminal elements across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.

Also, 12 illegal refining sites were dismantled, and more than 464,268 litres of stolen petroleum products were recovered during the period.

He said troops also facilitated the surrender of 39 insurgents and their family members during the period, while troops recovered 328 arms and 12,590 rounds of ammunition, describing the achievements as evidence of the military’s commitment to restoring peace and stability.

According to him, just last month, troops neutralised 76 terrorists, arrested 97 suspects, rescued 465 hostages and facilitated the surrender of 11 insurgents and their families.

He said one of the most significant operations occurred on June 6, when troops carried out a multi-axis assault on terrorists’ enclaves in the Mandara Mountains in Gwoza Local Council of Borno, which led to the rescue of 360 civilians, mainly women and children, who had been held captive since their abduction from Ngoshe on March 3.

Onoja added that troops evacuated 27 surrendered terrorists and their family members from the Jimini area of Gwoza on June 21 for medical care and profiling.