The Federal Government has disbursed N5.15 trillion in special intervention funds to the Nigerian military and related security agencies between November 2023 and September 2026, as the country continues to grapple with terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other security threats.

An analysis of documents from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) showed that the government received N5.65 trillion into a dedicated intervention account during the period, out of which N5.15 trillion, representing 91.15 percent, had been released.

The figures were contained in a document titled Ledger of Special Intervention Programme for Nigerian Military, September 2026, prepared by the Federation Account Department of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

The document was presented to the Technical Sub-Committee of FAAC at its meeting in Abuja on October 14, 2026.

According to the records, the disbursements were made through 30 payment transactions between November 8, 2023, and September 23, 2026. The funds were sourced from Federation Account allocations, non-oil revenue and transfers from a FAAC withholding account.

The special intervention funds were separate from the regular annual budgetary allocations to the Ministry of Defence and other security institutions.

However, the document did not provide details of the specific military operations, equipment purchases, personnel costs or security projects financed through the intervention programme.

The funding arrangement began with monthly transfers of N100 billion in 2023 and continued at the same level throughout 2024 and much of 2025.

Between January and December 2024, the account received and disbursed N1.2 trillion, bringing cumulative receipts and payments to N1.5 trillion.

Similarly, during the first nine months of 2025, another N900 billion was received and disbursed, taking cumulative payments under the programme to N2.4 trillion by September 2025.

The scale of the intervention increased significantly in 2026, with individual transfers rising from N100 billion to between N200 billion and N500 billion.

The records showed that N500 billion was transferred and paid to military and paramilitary agencies on June 16, 2026. Similar transfers and disbursements of N500 billion were recorded in July and August.

Another N500 billion was transferred on September 16, with the corresponding payment recorded on September 23.

The latest entry showed that a further N500 billion was transferred from non-oil revenue on October 14 as the September 2026 allocation.

Overall, the intervention account received N3.25 trillion in 2026 up to October 14, compared with N1.2 trillion throughout 2024. Payments during the period amounted to N2.75 trillion, representing more than half of the total N5.15 trillion disbursed since the programme began.

The ledger also showed an outstanding balance of N500 billion as of October 14, representing 8.85 percent of the total funds received. The amount had been transferred into the account but had no corresponding disbursement in the records.

The increased spending comes amid persistent security challenges across the country, particularly in the North-East, North-West and North-Central regions, where terrorist attacks, banditry and mass kidnappings continue to threaten lives and livelihoods.

FG Reviews National Security Strategy

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has commenced a review of the 2019 National Security Strategy to develop a new framework capable of addressing emerging security threats.

The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, disclosed this on Thursday during the inauguration of a committee tasked with reviewing the existing framework and producing the National Security Strategy 2026.

Ribadu, who was represented by Major General Sarkin Bello (retd.), said Nigeria’s security environment had changed considerably since the last review in 2019, making a comprehensive reassessment necessary.

He identified terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, cyber threats, misinformation, economic challenges, food insecurity and environmental concerns among the issues requiring attention.

He said the new strategy would provide a framework for coordinating national security, resilience and sustainable development while reflecting current realities and anticipating future threats.

The committee’s Deputy Chairman, Major General Evi Onumajuru (retd.), also stressed the need to adapt the country’s security priorities to the changing nature of threats.

He said the strategy should integrate traditional security concerns with non-kinetic challenges, including cybercrime, economic vulnerabilities, food insecurity and climate change.