National Assembly Approves N1.50trn Army Budget for 2026

The National Assembly has approved a budget of N1.50 trillion for the Nigerian Army for the 2026 fiscal year. This approval followed a joint budget defense session where the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, presented detailed expenditure proposals.

Lawmakers expressed satisfaction with the presentation and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the Army in fulfilling its constitutional duties. Concerns were raised regarding the timely release of funds, which is critical for the Ministry of Defence and other agencies.

The legislators pledged to ensure prompt disbursement of the approved budget to support military operations against insurgency, banditry, and violent crime, particularly in the northeast, northwest, and north-central regions of Nigeria. The budget allocation comes amid increasing calls for enhanced funding for Nigeria's security architecture, as the Nigerian Army continues its counter-insurgency operations against groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province.

The approval is seen as a financial commitment and a political signal to support ongoing military operations.