A new policy report has called for sweeping reforms in Nigeria’s military procurement system, warning that corruption, weak oversight and poor accountability continue to undermine the country’s fight against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other security challenges.
The report, released by Nextier, argues that despite record defence spending by the Federal Government, insecurity persists because procurement weaknesses have limited the effectiveness of military operations.
According to the report, Nigeria recorded 1,274 violent incidents, 4,654 deaths and 3,141 kidnapping victims in 2025, highlighting the country’s worsening security situation despite increased investment in defence.
It noted that the Federal Government allocated about ₦3.154 trillion to the Ministry of Defence in the 2026 Appropriation Bill, making it one of the highest-funded sectors of government.
The report, however, maintained that increased funding alone cannot guarantee improved security if procurement processes remain vulnerable to corruption, contract inflation, diversion of funds and poor contract execution.
It cited the infamous $2.1 billion arms procurement scandal, popularly known as Dasukigate, as an example of how alleged procurement fraud weakened Nigeria’s counter-insurgency efforts by diverting resources meant for military operations.
According to the report, excessive secrecy surrounding defence contracts, weak legislative oversight, limited auditing and inadequate institutional capacity have created opportunities for abuse and inefficiency within the military procurement system.
To address the challenges, the policy paper recommended the establishment of a dedicated defence procurement transparency framework, regular independent audits of defence spending, stronger oversight by the National Assembly and specialised procurement guidelines for military acquisitions.
It also called for enhanced anti-corruption monitoring by agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), as well as stricter sanctions against individuals involved in procurement fraud.
The report further urged the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces to strengthen internal compliance systems, improve contract management and adopt performance-based monitoring to ensure value for money in defence procurement.
It concluded that Nigeria’s security challenges cannot be solved through increased military spending alone, stressing that transparent procurement, effective oversight and prudent management of defence resources are essential to improving operational capacity and safeguarding national security.
