The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has called for prioritizing non-kinetic strategies to address Nigeria’s security challenges, emphasizing the need for holistic approaches beyond military action.
Speaking at a workshop on advancing non-kinetic measures to tackle insecurity and terrorism in Abuja, Hon. Tajudeen highlighted Nigeria’s substantial financial investment in defence. He noted that between 2008 and 2018, $16 billion—over 10% of the federal budget—was allocated to defence. In 2024 alone, N3.25 trillion, or 12% of the national budget, was earmarked for defence and security.
While acknowledging the scale of these investments, Tajudeen stressed the need to redirect resources toward sectors like education, healthcare, and infrastructure to address the root causes of insecurity, including poverty and social inequality.
Marija Peran, Resident Representative of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), underscored the importance of non-kinetic approaches, stating that military action alone cannot resolve Nigeria’s complex security issues. She emphasized that addressing economic and social factors is key to achieving sustainable peace.
REPORTER: GRACE IKE, ADBN NEWS.
