Mahdi Shehu warns only 7% of N20bn 2025 military budget released, risks soldier lives

Public commentator Mahdi Shehu raised alarm on his X account Monday that only N1.7 billion (7%) of the approved N20 billion for 2025 Nigerian Army security equipment has been disbursed. He questioned whether this explains soldiers dying 'like common bush rats' on battlefields and deserting posts with rifles and uniforms. Shehu also asked where funds borrowed for insecurity fighting are actually going, suggesting withholding budgets may deliberately endanger civilians. He concluded governments at all levels are reneging on security responsibilities. The concerns follow reports of police arresting seven suspected herdsmen over JAMB candidate abductions in Benue and Shehu's recent critiques on terrorist rehabilitation, election uncertainty, poverty levels, criminal negotiations, and Tinubu's INEC voter revalidation suspension.

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/04/20/mahdi-shehu-raises-alarm-over-poor-military-funding/