N1tn spent to fight insecurity in six months – Report

The Federal Government disbursed a total of N1.03tn to boost the fight against insecurity and terrorism between January and June 2024.

In the budget implementation report for the first half of 2024 obtained by our correspondent through Open Treasury, a website that monitors government spending, the amount represents a disbursement rate of 42.80 per cent from its appropriation of N2.41tn and a balance of N1.38tn.

Despite this spending, no fewer than 5,801 Nigerians were killed in terrorist attacks, and 4,348 citizens were abducted in the first seven months of 2024, Findings by The PUNCH showed.

Data sourced from an Indigenous intelligence outfit, Beacon Consulting, revealed that the number of fatalities was recorded during the various attacks witnessed in 574 Local Government Areas across the country.

A breakdown, according to geopolitical zones, showed that 2,223 persons were killed in the North-East, representing 33 per cent of the total incidents, in which 1,609 individuals were killed and 614 kidnapped in 88 Local Government councils.

In the North-West, 125 councils recorded attacks leading to the death of 2,023 individuals while 2,607 were abducted.

No fewer than 96 councils recorded incidents in the North-Central region out of which 1,102 residents lost their lives and 847 were kidnapped.

South-West recorded attacks in 106 councils which led to the death of 434 individuals and 93 were abducted. Also, 275 persons were killed and 145 abducted in 81 councils of the South-South.

While, in the South-East, 358 fatalities and 42 abductions were reported across 78 Local Government Areas

Insecurity has severely hindered socio-economic development in Nigeria, impacting various aspects of life throughout the country. The widespread threat of violence and crime arises from multiple sources, transcending from terrorism into banditry, cattle rustling, and kidnapping for ransom.

Despite the government’s promise to tackle the menace by investing in advanced attack machinery, insurgents continue to operate with relative ease. Although the number of attacks and casualties has decreased, the persistent threats highlight the ongoing challenges in achieving comprehensive security.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government disbursed N9.53tn to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies as budgetary allocations in the first six months of the 2024 budget year.

The figure indicates a 24 per cent disbursement rate from the total appropriation of N38.83tn leaving a balance of N29.3tn.

The funds were disbursed to over 500 MDAs between January and June 2024 for its operations and infrastructure development in the country, according to data obtained and analysed by our correspondent using Open Treasury, a website that monitors government spending.

This development came amidst reports of poor funding by the government to MDAs.

Recently, the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mrs Oluwatoyin Madein, admitted that the government had yet to begin implementation of the capital component of the 2024 national budget.

She said the decision to continue with the implementation of the 2023 budget was taken after consultation with the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu.

However, the situation may impair the government’s January-December budget cycle, vis-à-vis its national development plan 2021-2025.

A breakdown of the data revealed that the Ministry of Finance topped the list with the highest allocation of N4.96tn, a 36.94 per cent disbursement rate of its N13.43tn appropriation leaving a balance of N8.47tn.

The increase in allocation for the finance ministry is likely due to its salary payment duties.

This was followed by the defence ministry with a payment of N1.03tn. This means a disbursement rate of 42.80 per cent from its appropriation of N2.41tn and a balance of N1.38tn.

The education ministry got funding of N600.25bn indicating a 29.52 per cent disbursement rate from its total allocation of N2.03tn while the police affairs ministry received an allocation of N424.13bn in six months, representing 42.17 per cent disbursement rate from its appropriation of N1.01tn.

On economic spending, the document stated that the government spent N1.28tn on defence and security, N859.9bn on economic affairs, N314.5bn in the health sector, N784.37bn in the education sector, and N103.5bn on social protection within the review period.

Other sectors including general public services got N5.42tn, public order and safety got N764.98bn, environmental protection (N11.67bn), housing and communities (N175.49bn) and recreation, culture and religion got (N31.79bn).

Speaking on the insecurity issue, a security consultant and Fellow of the Institute of Security, Nigeria, Chigozie Ubani, said there was a critical need for a comprehensive approach to national security.

He noted that despite repeated recommendations to the Federal Government, current efforts were ineffective.

Ubani lamented the cycle of arrests, detentions, and subsequent bail of suspects without addressing the underlying social and economic factors contributing to insecurity.

“We are running a reactionary police system. When it happens, we then move. We arrest people, detain them, and later bail them. The other day, we charged them to court. It’s just reactionary. What we’ve not done is to look at the social and economic angles to security. We might be lucky, but if not, we might have a bloody situation, because people are hungry. This is one of our major problems,” he stated.