President Bola Tinubu on Friday in Abuja presented Nigeria’s ₦58.18 trillion 2026 budget to the National Assembly, with security receiving the highest allocation as the government seeks to address ongoing violence and public safety concerns across the country.
The budget proposal, titled Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity, set aside ₦5.41 trillion for defence and internal security, making it the largest sectoral allocation in the fiscal plan. The President said the decision was driven by the need to restore peace after years of banditry, kidnapping, insurgency, and communal clashes affecting many parts of Nigeria.
Tinubu explained that his administration is changing the country’s security structure by introducing a new approach focused on joint command, intelligence-led operations, and community-based stability efforts. He also stated that armed groups operating outside government authority would now be treated as terrorists, including bandits, militias, kidnappers, violent cult groups, and those who support or protect them.
The President’s position comes amid renewed attacks in the North-West and North-Central regions, continued insurgency in the North-East, and growing concerns over organised crime, all of which have disrupted farming, trade, and investment activities.
Beyond security, Tinubu outlined other key spending areas in the 2026 budget. Infrastructure was allocated ₦3.56 trillion, education received ₦3.52 trillion, while health was assigned ₦2.48 trillion. He said investment in education remains important, noting that hundreds of thousands of students have benefited from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
On health, the President said the sector accounts for six per cent of the total budget after liabilities, adding that discussions with the United States government have opened access to more than 500 million dollars in grants for specific health programmes.
Tinubu also spoke on the economy, stating that the government would continue reforms in agriculture through mechanisation, irrigation, and value-chain development. He noted that improving food production is key to controlling food prices and reducing reliance on imports.
As he concluded his address, the President said the success of the 2026 budget would depend on proper implementation, improved revenue generation, careful spending, and stronger accountability across government agencies.