Nigeria’s defence expenditure recorded a sharp increase in 2025, rising by 55% year-on-year to $2.1 billion, as worsening security challenges across the country drove higher military spending, according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
The report ranks Nigeria among the fastest-growing military spenders globally, underscoring how internal security pressures are reshaping fiscal priorities across sub-Saharan Africa.
Data from SIPRI shows that Nigeria’s military spending climbed from approximately $1.35 billion in 2024 to $2.1 billion in 2025, marking one of the most significant increases on the continent. The surge was largely attributed to intensifying security concerns, including insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, and persistent communal and separatist conflicts.
With this increase, Nigeria now ranks as the second-largest military spender in sub-Saharan Africa, behind South Africa.
Across the region, total military expenditure rose to $23.3 billion in 2025, representing a 7.4% increase from the previous year. Nigeria accounted for a substantial portion of this growth, reinforcing its role as a key driver of rising defence spending in the sub-region.
Over a longer period, military spending in sub-Saharan Africa has grown by 21% over the past decade, reflecting sustained instability and ongoing conflict risks. While Nigeria significantly increased its defence budget, South Africa—the region’s largest spender—recorded a slight decline of 1.2% to $3.2 billion, continuing its gradual downward trend.
At the continental level, Africa’s total military expenditure reached $58.2 billion in 2025, an 8.5% increase year-on-year and 45% higher than levels recorded in 2016. North Africa accounted for the largest share, with countries such as Algeria leading spending at $25.4 billion. However, growth in sub-Saharan Africa is increasingly driven by internal security challenges rather than interstate conflicts.
Globally, military spending rose to a record $2.887 trillion in 2025, marking the 11th consecutive year of growth. Although the pace of expansion slowed to 2.9% compared to 9.7% in 2024, global defence expenditure remains at its highest level on record. The world’s top five military spenders—the United States, China, Russia, Germany, and India—accounted for 58% of total global spending.
Nigeria’s sharp increase in military expenditure highlights a growing shift in fiscal priorities toward security, even as the country faces broader economic pressures such as rising debt obligations and revenue constraints.
The surge in defence allocation suggests that security concerns are increasingly shaping budget decisions, with potential implications for funding in other critical sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, and education. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s military capacity continues to expand, with the country maintaining a fleet of 159 military aircraft in 2026, reflecting its evolving defence capabilities and ongoing counter-terrorism efforts.
