The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Federal Government of a dangerous misplacement of priorities, alleging that while the presidential air fleet is fully funded, Nigeria’s military aircraft are left to languish due to lack of resources.
The opposition coalition was reacting to a Daily Trust report revealing that only about 7 percent of the Nigerian Army’s 2025 budget for security equipment was released. According to records from the federal government’s Open Treasury Portal, just ₦1.46 billion out of the ₦20.56 billion budgeted for military equipment was disbursed as of December 31, 2025.
The party also noted that data for the 2026 monthly budget performance has yet to be published by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, raising fresh concerns about transparency and fiscal discipline.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, after signing the ₦68.32 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill into law, extended the implementation of the 2025 budget to June 31, 2026 fueling concerns over Nigeria’s strained finances and rising debt profile, which hit ₦159.28 trillion in December 2025, alongside a fresh $6 billion loan recently approved by the Senate.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said it was “unpardonable” that at a time of worsening insecurity, the government appears more focused on maintaining luxury for top officials than equipping troops on the frontlines.
“The connection between these two realities is direct. When only a fraction of security funds is released, when nothing is provided for logistics like mobility and fuel, and when equipment procurement is delayed, the result is predictable: a weakened security system. And when the state looks weak, those who threaten it grow stronger, with devastating consequences for ordinary Nigerians.
“Even more troubling is the contrast in priorities. While the military struggles with chronic underfunding, the federal government has reportedly ensured full funding for the luxurious presidential air fleet enjoyed by President Tinubu and his immediate family, even as military aircraft remain grounded due to a lack of resources. This paints a troubling picture of a government that is more concerned with comfort at the top than safety on the ground.
“A government that releases only 7 percent of security equipment funds, and nothing for critical logistics, cannot claim to be serious about winning the war against terror. You cannot starve our brave men and women in uniform of the tools they need and expect them to defeat a determined and well-armed enemy. This is not just a budgeting failure, it is a failure of leadership.
“The consequences are clear. Communities remain exposed. Farmers cannot return to their farms. Businesses continue to operate under fear. And now, hundreds of women and children face an uncertain fate in the hands of terrorists.”
The ADC pointed to what it described as a chilling national emergency, citing reports that over 400 women and children abducted in Ngoshe, Borno State are now facing a ₦5 billion ransom demand from insurgents, alongside a 72-hour ultimatum.
“Even more alarming is that this disclosure comes as Nigerians confront yet another national tragedy. Reports indicate that over 400 women and children abducted in Ngoshe, Borno State are now the subject of a ₦5 billion ransom demand by Boko Haram, with a 72-hour ultimatum and a chilling threat that the victims may be dispersed and never seen again if the government fails to act.
This is the painful reality of our country today: a country where terrorists feel bold enough to issue deadlines to the state; a country where hundreds of citizens can be held hostage while the government underfunds the very military meant to protect them.”
The party insisted that underfunding military operations is a key reason insecurity continues to worsen across the country, warning that insurgents are becoming increasingly emboldened.
“The ADC believes that security funding must be treated as a first-line responsibility. Budgetary allocations must translate into real, timely releases for equipment, logistics, training, and intelligence. Anything less weakens both the morale of our armed forces and the safety of our people.
“Nigeria does not lack resources. What we lack is the discipline to put those resources where they matter most. The ADC stands with the families of those abducted and calls on the federal government to act with urgency, clarity, and resolve to secure their safe return, while addressing the deeper failures that have made such tragedies possible.”
