The figures were extracted from approved state budget documents published on Open States, a BudgIT-backed platform that aggregates government budget data. The substantial allocations, aimed at strengthening security, have raised fresh concerns about effectiveness, as insecurity continues to worsen in many parts of the country.
Although the constitutional responsibility for protecting lives and property rests with the Federal Government, the rising wave of crime has forced many governors to adopt internal security measures. However, these efforts have delivered limited results, with criminal groups still operating freely in several states.
The analysis covers 32 states, as Gombe, Kebbi, Niger and Yobe did not clearly disclose their security vote allocations. Ekiti State also failed to clearly state its security vote in its 2025 budget, suggesting that the total spending may exceed ₦525.23 billion over the three-year period.
Data shows that states approved ₦150.47 billion for security votes in 2023, rising to ₦164.07 billion in 2024 and surging to ₦210.68 billion in 2025. This represents a 9.04 per cent increase between 2023 and 2024, followed by a sharper 28.4 per cent rise in 2025. Compared to 2023, security vote allocations in 2025 were more than ₦60 billion higher, an increase of about 40 per cent.
A few states accounted for a significant share of the total spending. Borno State topped the list with ₦57.40 billion over the three years, reflecting ongoing counterinsurgency efforts in the North-East. Anambra followed with ₦42.57 billion, driven by a dramatic rise from ₦184.90 million in 2023 to ₦17.28 billion in 2024 and ₦25.10 billion in 2025. Delta recorded ₦38.44 billion, while Benue spent ₦36.87 billion, with steady annual increases.
Other high-spending states included Ondo (₦31.72bn), Zamfara (₦31.40bn), Edo (₦29.21bn), Adamawa (₦27bn) and Bauchi (₦25.41bn). At the lower end, Rivers disclosed just ₦210 million over the three years, Akwa Ibom ₦624 million, and Ekiti only ₦3.1 million, highlighting wide disparities in reporting and prioritisation.
In 2023, Bauchi recorded the highest allocation at ₦17.39 billion, followed by Delta at ₦17.15 billion. Bayelsa, Adamawa and Benue also ranked high. In 2024, Zamfara led with ₦17.40 billion, ahead of Anambra and Borno. By 2025, spending widened sharply, with Borno alone approving ₦32.83 billion, followed by Anambra (₦25.10bn) and Oyo, which jumped to ₦20.09 billion from just ₦26.5 million in 2023.
Some states recorded sharp fluctuations. Bauchi dropped from ₦17.39 billion in 2023 to ₦12.8 million in 2024 before rising again to ₦8 billion in 2025. Kano also dipped sharply in 2024 before rebounding in 2025. Ogun steadily increased its allocation from ₦114.70 million in 2023 to ₦2.80 billion in 2025.
Regionally, the North-East accounted for the highest disclosed spending at ₦113.78 billion, driven mainly by Borno. The South-East followed with ₦102.59 billion, largely due to Anambra’s surge. The South-South recorded ₦98.36 billion, while the North-Central posted ₦76.57 billion. The North-West disclosed ₦70.77 billion, and the South-West recorded the lowest total at ₦63.16 billion, though spending in the zone rose sharply in 2025.
The growing allocations come amid sustained public criticism of security votes, which are monthly discretionary funds meant for intelligence, emergency response and sensitive operations. Analysts argue that the secrecy surrounding their use has encouraged abuse, with limited accountability or measurable impact.
Speaking to Dip Connect Online News, National Coordinator of the Coalition of Northern Groups, Jamilu Charanchi, questioned the value of the allocations, noting that insecurity and poverty remain widespread in the North despite heavy spending.
“What are they doing with the security vote? People are still being killed. Roads, hospitals and schools are failing. Electricity is poor. What exactly is the money being used for?” he asked, adding that poverty remains a major driver of insecurity.
President Bola Tinubu has also stressed that states and local governments must take greater responsibility for internal security, warning that weak governance at the grassroots has worsened insecurity. He said local governments, being closest to the people, should play a frontline role in community policing and intelligence gathering.
In December 2025, organised labour echoed similar concerns, urging state and local governments to translate security funding into concrete action. The Nigeria Labour Congress warned that worsening insecurity is draining household incomes and disrupting daily life, calling for better intelligence, surveillance and rapid-response systems.
Despite rising security budgets, Nigerians continue to demand transparency, accountability and tangible results as violence spreads across the country.
Elijah Adeyemi
