The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has called for a significant boost in funding for the defence sector to strengthen efforts against banditry and other forms of criminality across Nigeria.
Matawalle made the appeal during the 2025 budget defence session with the Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Defence at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja. He emphasized that adequate funding is essential for equipping security forces to address the nation’s pressing security challenges.
“With proper funding and the right equipment, we can make significant progress in the fight against banditry,” the Minister said.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the Ministry’s spokesperson, Daberechi Asonye, Matawalle expressed gratitude to the legislative committees for their steadfast support, which he credited for the Ministry’s accomplishments so far.
“The dedication and cooperation of the Senate and House Committees on Defence have been pivotal to our progress,” he noted.
Addressing the challenges posed by limited resources, the Minister described the current defence budget as insufficient in light of modern security demands. He disclosed that, in 2024, the Ministry was able to procure only a limited number of Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), leaving critical gaps in combating insecurity.
“Last year, we managed to acquire some Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), but this is not enough. More are needed to respond swiftly and effectively to security threats,” Matawalle explained.
The Minister further appealed for an increase in budgetary allocation to enable the Ministry to deliver essential equipment to regions facing fresh attacks, thereby ensuring timely and decisive action against criminal activities.
“We urge the legislature to consider increasing the defence budget. This will enable us to adequately equip vulnerable areas and strengthen our response to insecurity,” he added.
Matawalle also acknowledged the leadership of the committees, thanking them for their continued collaboration and support in advancing the Ministry’s objectives.
In response, the committees’ leadership assured the Minister of their commitment to supporting the Ministry of Defence in achieving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on national security.
The session was attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ambassador Gabriel Tanimu Aduda, along with other senior officials and directors.
