Kehinde Fajobi
The House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence has called on the Federal Government to ensure the full release of capital allocations for security agencies in the 2024 and 2025 budgets.
Speaking on Monday during the 2025 budget defence for agencies under the Office of the National Security Adviser, committee chairman Ahmed Satomi decried the non-release or partial release of 2024 capital allocations for intelligence agencies, stressing its impact on their efficiency.
Satomi, representing Borno State, said, “Though allocation to the security sector has improved over the years, the intelligence sub-sector has always been underfunded, making it difficult to attain peak service delivery.”
He commended President Bola Tinubu for allocating ₦4.91 trillion to defence and security in the 2025 budget but urged prioritisation of the intelligence sector.
He revealed that the intelligence sub-sector is allocated ₦595 billion, including ₦274.55 billion for capital expenditure.
Satomi further appealed to the president, saying, “I am calling on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, to please intervene not just for an increase in the allocations to the agencies in the intelligence sector but to also direct the Minister of Finance to, as a matter of national security, prioritise the full release of all outstanding 2024 budget allocations to the intelligence agencies and sustain the practice of prompt releases to them going forward.”
He emphasised the importance of funding deradicalisation, disarmament, and reintegration initiatives, describing the lack of adequate funding as “not encouraging.”
Meanwhile, he lamented that the National Centre for Counter-Terrorism has received no capital release for 2023 and 2024.
Permanent Secretary Mohammed Danjuma of the Office of the National Security Adviser highlighted the 2025 budget’s focus on addressing evolving security challenges.
He assured that the intelligence community remains committed to transparency, accountability, and resource efficiency, despite fiscal constraints.
He said, “The budget will enhance coordination and collaboration by strengthening partnerships within security agencies to foster a more cohesive and responsive security architecture.”
The session included representatives from key agencies, such as the Directorate of State Services, National Intelligence Agency, National Counter Terrorism Centre, and the National Cybercrimes Coordination Centre.