President Bola Tinubu on Friday presented the N58.18tn 2026 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly, with defence and security emerging as the biggest spending priority.
Under the proposal, Security tops 2026 budget with an allocation of N5.41tn, the highest sectoral vote, ahead of infrastructure, education and health. It is the third consecutive year security has received the largest share since the administration began presenting budgets in November 2023.
Tinubu told lawmakers that national security remains the foundation of economic growth, investment and social stability, arguing that development cannot thrive without peace and order. “Security remains the foundation of development,” the President said, stressing that instability would continue to undermine productivity and investor confidence.
The President explained that the N5.41tn security allocation would be deployed to modernise the armed forces, strengthen intelligence-led policing, improve border surveillance and support joint operations among security agencies. He added that spending in the sector would be tied to accountability and measurable outcomes.
Earlier in the day, the Federal Executive Council approved the 2026 budget framework at an emergency meeting presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima. The council pegged total expenditure at N58.47tn, noting significant pressures from debt servicing, wages and security obligations.
Reinforcing the administration’s stance, Tinubu said Security tops 2026 budget because persistent threats from terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes require sustained funding and coordinated action.
Beyond security, the budget proposes N3.56tn for infrastructure, N3.52tn for education and N2.48tn for health. Tinubu acknowledged the strain on public finances but insisted that prioritising safety was unavoidable, linking security spending to broader development goals.
He urged lawmakers to support the proposal, saying the budget was designed to consolidate recent economic reforms while restoring public confidence in the state’s ability to protect lives and property.
According to the President, Security tops 2026 budget to ensure stability that will allow other sectors of the economy to grow.