The House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence has criticized the Presidency for what it termed a lack of dedication to national security, citing poor funding and inadequate budget releases concerning the intelligence sector.
Chairman of the committee, Ahmad Satomi, voiced these concerns during the 2026 budget defense meeting with relevant agencies under its supervision, emphasizing a disturbing disparity between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's assertions regarding security and the actual financial allocations made to the intelligence division.
Satomi recalled that the president proposed a budget of N58.18 trillion for 2026, underscoring security as a primary foundation for development; however, mere N664.12 billion was designated to the intelligence sector. This includes allocations to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Department of State Services, the National Intelligence Agency, the Presidential Air Fleet, and the National Institute for Security Studies, amid a total earmarked of N5.41 trillion for defense and security.
He further condemned the reluctance displayed by certain security agencies towards parliamentary oversight, noting that such oversight is essential for promoting transparency, accountability, and providing value for public funds, rather than fostering antagonism.
Adding to these concerns, Mohammed Sanusi, the Permanent Secretary of Special Services at the Office of the National Security Adviser, cautioned that financial limitations and erratic fund releases were detrimentally impacting intelligence operations directed against terrorism, banditry, and rising transnational criminal activities.
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