By Chukwudi Obasi, Abuja
The House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence has urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the Minister of Finance to fully release the 2024 capital allocation to the security and intelligence sector.
Speaking during yesterday’s budget defence session for agencies under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Committee Chairman, Ahmed Satomi, expressed concerns over the inadequate funding for intelligence agencies.
He noted that while security allocations in general appear commendable, the intelligence subsector remains grossly underfunded.
Satomi stressed the urgency of addressing funding gaps to ensure the intelligence community can operate optimally to safeguard Nigeria’s future.
He added that some agencies had not received capital allocations for 2023 and 2024, while others had only received partial releases.
The session featured agencies such as the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the Presidential Air Fleet, the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS), and the National Cybercrimes Coordination Centre.
Satomi emphasised the critical need for collective efforts to ensure national security and called for a review of allocations to empower intelligence agencies.
He said, “It is the responsibility of everyone to ensure these agencies are adequately equipped to fulfil their mandates responsibly and effectively.”
Satomi highlighted President Tinubu’s presentation of the N49.7trn 2025 budget, which includes an allocation of N4.91trn to the defence and security sector.
However, the intelligence subsector received only N595.02bn, which includes Capital Expenditures of N274.55bn, Overhead Allocations of N107.96bn, and Personnel Costs of N212.51bn.
Satomi called for an increase in these allocations, noting that frontline agencies like the NCTC and NCCSALW had not received any capital funding for two consecutive years. Similarly, the DSS and NIA were described as receiving insufficient funding to carry out their critical mandates.
Satomi urged President Tinubu to prioritise the intelligence subsector.
He said, “It is disheartening that agencies tasked with countering terrorism, combating illicit arms flow, intelligence gathering, and ensuring safe and efficient air transportation for key officials are underfunded. I appeal to the President to direct the Minister of Finance to ensure the full release of all outstanding 2024 allocations and establish a consistent practice of prompt releases moving forward.”
Satomi also praised the 2025 budget’s theme, “Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace, Rebuilding Prosperity”, but stressed that achieving peace requires robust funding for deradicalisation, disarmament, rehabilitation, and reintegration programs at all levels of government.
Mohammed Sanusi Danjuma, Permanent Secretary, Special Services at ONSA, described the proposed budget as strategically designed to address evolving security challenges.
He outlined key priorities, including enhanced coordination, infrastructure development, and capacity building.
Danjuma acknowledged the constraints of the envelope budgeting system but assured the committee of the intelligence community’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and effective resource management in alignment with Nigeria’s security objectives.
