Defence minister defends ₦5.41tn budget, says ‘warfare is expensive’

The Defence Minister, Gen. Christopher Musa, has defended the ₦5.41 trillion budget allocated for defence and security in the 2026 budget, stating that the high cost of modern warfare necessitates such an amount. The minister explained that the funds would cover the procurement of military equipment as well as the remuneration of troops.

When questioned about the apparent largeness of the figure when converted to dollars, Musa clarified that the cost of sophisticated weapons such as Tomahawk missiles and drone precision bombs are prohibitively expensive, with one Tomahawk missile costing $3.2 million and one drone precision bomb costing at least $100,000. He also highlighted the cost of naval operations and the remuneration of military personnel as contributing factors to the expenditure.

Musa revealed that Nigeria is expanding its domestic defence manufacturing capacity, currently producing Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles and Armoured Personnel Carriers. He emphasized that the government is working on strengthening the country's air defense system to better protect its territory.