A sweeping review of confidential financial records has revealed that Nigeria’s military and paramilitary agencies received a total of N2.3 trillion in special intervention funding over a 23-month period between October 2023 and September 2025, even as insecurity continues to worsen across the country with fresh killings recorded in Plateau and Kaduna states.
The documents, obtained exclusively by Spear News from the Federation Account Allocation Committee records and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, detail a structured and continuous flow of funds outside routine statutory allocations, forming a parallel financing stream dedicated to security operations. The ledger, titled “Special Intervention Programme for Nigerian Military – February 2026,” shows that the entire sum was released in 23 equal tranches of N100 billion each, with every inflow immediately followed by a corresponding disbursement, leaving no residual balance in the account at any time.
The records indicate that the intervention account functioned strictly as a transit channel. It opened on October 19, 2023 with a brought-forward balance of N100 billion, alongside a fresh inflow described as “Transfer from September 2023 Allocation 1/10” worth N100 billion. By November 8, 2023, the full amount had been disbursed to the military. This pattern continued consistently, with subsequent tranches received from monthly FAAC allocations and paid out in full within days or weeks.
By December 2023, the scope of beneficiaries expanded from the military alone to include paramilitary agencies, marking a significant shift in the distribution structure. Over the following months, each tranche followed a similar pattern of receipt and immediate disbursement, covering allocations from September 2023 through June 2024 and amounting to N1 trillion in the first phase alone. A second phase commenced in August 2024, mirroring the structure of the first, with another N1 trillion released in 10 equal tranches extending into mid-2025. A third phase followed shortly after, delivering an additional N300 billion between June and September 2025, bringing the cumulative total to N2.3 trillion.
Despite the scale and consistency of the funding, the documents provide no breakdown of how the money was distributed among the armed forces and various paramilitary agencies, nor do they specify the operations, procurement, or projects the funds were intended to support. The absence of such details raises significant concerns about transparency, particularly given the persistence of insecurity nationwide.
Separate records further reveal that the Federal Government allocated an additional N450 billion within a three-month period in 2025 as non-regular allowances for military and paramilitary personnel. The funds were released in three equal tranches of N150 billion for April, May and June 2025, sourced from non-oil revenues and fully disbursed shortly after receipt. In another entry, N40 billion was released in September 2025 through the Office of the National Security Adviser as part of targeted security funding, following the same pattern of immediate transfer for operational use.
The scale of these financial interventions stands in stark contrast to the current security realities on the ground. Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Business Expectations Survey for February 2026 shows that insecurity remains the most pressing constraint to business operations, ranking above taxation, power supply and interest rates. The findings highlight a growing disconnect between government spending on security and the lived experiences of citizens and businesses.
This disconnect has been further underscored by recent deadly attacks in Plateau and Kaduna states. In Angwan Rukuba, Jos North, gunmen launched a late-night assault on March 29, 2026, opening fire on residents and leaving multiple casualties. Accounts of the death toll have varied, with residents initially reporting six fatalities, community leaders later putting the figure at 27, and the police confirming at least 12 deaths with additional bodies discovered during search operations. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as attackers on motorcycles targeted people along roads and in open spaces, fleeing the scene shortly after.
The Plateau State Government imposed a 48-hour curfew in response to the attack, while the University of Jos suspended examinations due to the security situation affecting its host communities. Governor Caleb Mutfwang condemned the killings and pledged government support for victims, including covering medical expenses and ensuring dignified burials.
In Kaduna State, a separate attack on a wedding gathering in Kahir community, Kagarko Local Government Area, left at least 13 people dead, with several others injured and about 25 reportedly abducted. Residents said the attackers stormed the venue in large numbers, shooting indiscriminately before moving through the community to loot shops and supplies. The incident has deepened fears among rural populations, with local leaders warning that communities have become increasingly vulnerable due to the absence of effective security deterrence.
Combined estimates from both incidents suggest that no fewer than 40 people may have been killed within a short period, intensifying public outrage and raising fresh questions about the effectiveness of security spending. The Christian Association of Nigeria condemned the Plateau attack, describing it as a grim reflection of the country’s worsening security situation and warning that repeated violence without accountability undermines public confidence in the state’s ability to protect lives.
The emerging picture is one of a country committing vast financial resources to security while continuing to grapple with persistent and, in some cases, escalating violence. The N2.3 trillion intervention fund, alongside additional billions released for allowances and targeted operations, underscores the scale of government effort, yet the absence of transparency in how the funds are utilised leaves critical questions unanswered.
As insecurity continues to shape economic activity, disrupt communities and erode public trust, the revelations contained in the FAAC documents place renewed focus on the urgent need for accountability, oversight and measurable outcomes in Nigeria’s security financing framework. Spear News will continue to track developments and provide further insights into the management and impact of these funds.
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