The House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence has called on the Federal Government to ensure the full release of capital allocations earmarked for security agencies in both the 2024 and proposed 2025 budgets. The committee emphasized that timely and complete disbursement of these funds is crucial to enabling the nation’s security agencies to effectively fulfill their constitutional mandates and address emerging security challenges.

Ahmed Satomi, Chairman of the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence, raised concerns during the 2025 budget defense session for agencies under the purview of the Office of the National Security Adviser. Satomi lamented that while funding for the security sector had improved in recent years, the intelligence sub-sector remains severely underfunded, a challenge he said was undermining national security efforts.

“It is regrettable that capital allocation to some of these intelligence agencies has not been released, and where funds were released, they fell far below what is needed to meet operational demands,” Satomi remarked. He stressed the vital role intelligence agencies play in proactive security operations, noting that inadequate funding hampers their ability to gather, analyze, and act on critical information necessary for ensuring national safety and stability.

The committee chairman called on the Federal Government and relevant stakeholders to prioritize intelligence agencies in the 2025 budget. He highlighted the need for a more strategic approach to resource allocation within the security framework to ensure that these agencies are equipped to address the security challenges facing the nation.

Representatives of several agencies, including the Directorate of State Services, National Intelligence Agency, National Counter-Terrorism Centre, and the National Cybercrimes Coordination Centre, were present at the defense session. The committee reiterated the importance of collaboration between security agencies to protect the lives and properties of Nigerians.

Satomi also commended President Bola Tinubu for earmarking N4.91 trillion for Defense and Security in the 2025 fiscal year but underscored the importance of prioritizing the intelligence sub-sector within the budget. He revealed that the intelligence sub-sector received a total allocation of N595 billion, comprising N274.55 billion for capital expenditure, N107.96 billion for overhead costs, and N212.51 billion for personnel expenses. Despite these allocations, Satomi stressed the need for a more robust funding structure to ensure the agencies can function at full capacity.

Satomi urged President Tinubu to intervene decisively to address the funding shortfall in the intelligence sector, calling for the full release of all outstanding 2024 budget allocations to intelligence agencies. He also advocated for the institutionalization of prompt budgetary disbursements in the future to prevent delays that could hinder security operations.

The lawmaker underscored that the 2025 budget proposal, themed “Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace, Rebuilding Prosperity,” reflects the government’s commitment to securing the nation and fostering a proactive approach to governance. He noted that achieving peace requires not only security measures but also engagement with citizens through government-led initiatives to build trust and collaboration.

In closing, Satomi emphasized the need for a more comprehensive approach to tackling security challenges, including deradicalization, disarmament, rehabilitation, and reintegration programs. He pointed out that agencies tasked with countering violent extremism and terrorism, controlling the illicit flow of small arms, and providing intelligence services have faced significant funding challenges, undermining their ability to meet their mandates.

The Permanent Secretary for Special Services in the Office of the National Security Adviser, Mohammed Danjuma, in his remarks, acknowledged the constraints posed by the envelope system of budgeting but reiterated the government’s commitment to empowering security agencies to enhance intelligence gathering and improve coordination across agencies. He assured that despite fiscal limitations, agencies remain dedicated to transparent and accountable resource management aligned with the government’s broader security objectives.