State governments across Nigeria budgeted a combined ₦525.23 billion for security votes and related operations between 2023 and 2025, despite the worsening wave of killings, kidnappings and violent crimes across the country. The allocation, intended to strengthen internal security, has raised fresh concerns about effectiveness and accountability as many communities continue to live in fear.
The figures were extracted from approved state budget documents published on Open States, a BudgIT-backed platform that tracks public finance data. The analysis covered 32 states, as Gombe, Kebbi, Niger, and Yobe did not clearly disclose their security vote allocations. Ekiti State also failed to clearly itemise its security vote in its 2025 budget, suggesting that the total amount spent over the three years may be higher than reported.
A breakdown of the data shows a steady rise in security spending. In 2023, states approved ₦150.47bn, which increased to ₦164.07bn in 2024, before jumping sharply to ₦210.68bn in 2025. This represents a 40 per cent increase over the three years, highlighting how rapidly security vote allocations expanded despite the absence of corresponding improvements in public safety.
Although security remains largely the responsibility of the Federal Government, rising insecurity has pushed many governors to adopt internal security strategies, including intelligence gathering, logistics support for security agencies, and local surveillance initiatives. However, these measures have largely failed to curb criminal activities, with armed groups and kidnappers continuing to operate with impunity in many states.
Among the states, Borno recorded the highest cumulative security vote at ₦57.40bn, reflecting the sustained cost of counterinsurgency efforts in the North-East. Anambra followed with ₦42.57bn, driven by a dramatic rise from ₦184.9m in 2023 to ₦25.10bn in 2025. Delta ranked next with ₦38.44bn, while Benue approved ₦36.87bn over the period, with allocations increasing each year.
Other states with large security vote provisions included Ondo (₦31.72bn), Zamfara (₦31.40bn), Edo (₦29.21bn), Adamawa (₦27bn) and Bauchi (₦25.41bn). At the lower end, Rivers State disclosed just ₦210m over the three years, while Akwa Ibom and Ekiti reported ₦624m and ₦3.1m, respectively, underscoring wide disparities in reporting and prioritisation among states.
Yearly comparisons reveal sharp shifts in spending patterns. In 2023, Bauchi approved the highest security vote at ₦17.39bn, followed by Delta (₦17.15bn) and Bayelsa (₦11.12bn). By 2024, Zamfara emerged as the top spender with ₦17.40bn, while Anambra and Borno followed closely. In 2025, spending widened significantly, led by Borno’s ₦32.83bn, Anambra’s ₦25.10bn, and Oyo’s ₦20.09bn, marking an unusual surge from previous years.
The data also shows extreme fluctuations in some states’ allocations. Bauchi’s security vote dropped sharply from ₦17.39bn in 2023 to ₦12.8m in 2024, before rebounding to ₦8bn in 2025. Kano experienced a similar pattern, falling from ₦2.10bn to ₦11.93m, before rising again to ₦5.62bn in 2025.
A regional analysis shows that the North-East accounted for the highest disclosed security vote spending at ₦113.78bn, driven mainly by Borno. The South-East followed with ₦102.59bn, largely due to Anambra’s rising allocations. The South-South recorded ₦98.36bn, while the North-Central and North-West posted ₦76.57bn and ₦70.77bn, respectively. The South-West recorded the lowest total at ₦63.16bn, although spending surged sharply in 2025.
Security votes are special discretionary funds set aside for sensitive security operations, often exempt from detailed public scrutiny. Critics argue that the secrecy surrounding their disbursement undermines transparency and accountability, allowing misuse of public funds under the guise of security.
Speaking on the issue, the National Coordinator of the Coalition of Northern Groups, Jamilu Charanchi, questioned the impact of the allocations, noting that insecurity, poverty and decaying infrastructure persist across the North despite the huge sums released to state governments.
Labour unions have also expressed concern. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) warned that worsening insecurity is eroding household incomes and economic activity, urging state and local governments to convert security funding into tangible results for citizens.
President Bola Tinubu, speaking at a security conference, said effective local governance is critical to addressing internal security challenges. He noted that the weakening of the local government system has hampered community-level security responses and reiterated support for community policing as a pathway to improving safety nationwide.
