State governments across Nigeria set aside a combined N525.23bn for security votes and related operations between 2023 and 2025, according to an analysis of figures drawn from approved state budget documents.
The data, sourced from publicly available budget records compiled on Open States, shows a steady rise in security spending despite persistent cases of killings, kidnappings and violent crimes across the country.
The analysis covered budgets from 32 states, as Gombe, Kebbi, Niger and Yobe did not clearly disclose their security vote allocations. Ekiti also failed to provide a clear breakdown in its 2025 budget, suggesting the total figure could be higher.
States approved N150.47bn for security in 2023, which rose to N164.07bn in 2024 and jumped sharply to N210.68bn in 2025. Compared with 2023, spending in 2025 increased by over 40 per cent.
Borno State recorded the highest cumulative allocation at N57.40bn, reflecting ongoing counterinsurgency operations in the North East. Anambra followed with N42.57bn, while Delta and Benue recorded N38.44bn and N36.87bn respectively.
At the lower end, Rivers disclosed N210m over the three years, while Akwa Ibom recorded N624m, highlighting wide disparities in how states report or prioritise security spending.
Regionally, the North East accounted for the highest disclosed total, followed by the South East and South South. The South West recorded the lowest three-year total but saw a sharp rise in 2025 driven largely by increased allocations from Oyo and Ondo.
Security votes are special funds reserved for urgent security operations, but critics continue to question their effectiveness and transparency amid worsening insecurity nationwide.
