Money

Full Breakdown of Amount Nigeria Spent To Buy Arms and Ammunition in 5 years Released

Published 19 Nov 2025 at 2:47 PM

by Dave Ibemere

3 min read

Nigeria has spent almost N800 billion on arms and ammunition purchases between 2020 and Q1 2025
Data shows defence spending surged sharply in 2023 and 2024, reaching N520.02 billion amid rising insecurity
The government continues to promise solutions to Nigeria’s rising insecurity from the North to the South

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Legit.ng journalist Dave Ibemere has over a decade of experience in business journalism, with in-depth knowledge of the Nigerian economy, stocks, and general market trends.

The National Bureau of Statistics has revealed that Nigeria has spent over N777 billion on importing arms and ammunition between 2020 and the first half of 2025

The figures captured in the foreign trade report for Q2 2025 showed a consistent year-on-year increase, reflecting the rising insecurity across the country.

Nigeria spent over N777bn on imported military hardware between 2020–2025. — Nigeria spent N520bn on arms imports in 2024 alone, the highest in five years. Photo: Nigeran Army
Source: Getty Images

Breakdown of amount spent on import

NBS data shows that in 2020, Nigeria spent N29.24 billion on arms and ammunition, which surged to N72.50 billion in 2021.

Nigeria defence spending

BudgIT’s latest report highlights how Nigeria plans to allocate its N6.57 trillion 2025 Security and Defence Budget. The report raises the question: Where is the money going?

Of the total budget, N4.07 trillion is earmarked for personnel costs, N1.50 trillion for capital expenditure, and N642.55 billion for overheads.

The allocation to specific agencies and departments is as follows:

Nigeria security challenges

Nigeria faces severe security challenges, including terrorism from groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP, insurgency, banditry, and kidnapping, particularly in the Northwest, as well as separatist agitations like IPOB in the Southeast.

These security threats have significantly increased pressure on the country’s military and security agencies, necessitating higher spending on personnel, equipment, and operations.

'How to end Nigeria’s insecurity in 6 months'

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that General Ishola Williams (retd.), the former chief of Defence Training and Planning, has expressed confidence in Nigeria overcoming the insecurity challenges in the country within six months.

The former military general disclosed that the government did not have to keep buying weapons, adding that “all these problems can be solved within six months. Reorganise the security agencies.”

He stressed the need to maintain the weapons Nigeria currently have in its military arsenal in the fight against the criminal elements in the country.