NBS: “Nigeria spends 418% more buying foreign weapons in 2023”

The National Bureau of Statistics’ (NBS) said international trade data shows Nigeria has seen a sharp increase in its spending on weapons, with imports of weapons rising by an astounding 418% between 2022 and 2023.

This increase in defense spending begs serious concerns about the government’s underlying plans and the effectiveness of the program, which is supposedly meant to reduce the nation’s widespread insecurity.

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Nigeria spent N125.18 billion between January and September 2023 on the importation of weapons and ammunition, a huge increase over the N24.18 billion spent in the same period the year before.

This increase in defence spending is particularly noteworthy considering the timing – a considerable portion of these imports were concentrated around the general elections period, suggesting a strategic move by the government to fortify security during this politically sensitive time or otherwise.

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However, despite this considerable investment in foreign weaponry, the security situation in Nigeria remains dire, with kidnapping and other forms of violence continuing unabated. This situation highlights a troubling disconnect between the government’s heavy investment in arms and the persistent insecurity faced by Nigerians.